Can't agree more, especially because I have a mom that likes to spend big for "the best". First of all you can often find excellent performers for cheap. Second of all, expensive tools can suck too. Third of all you can often improve the performance of tools if you know how to tune and use them properly. Forth of all, buying an expensive product you know nothing about is begging to be scammed. Fifth, avoid sets, as an expert in a lot of hobbies, the big sets always include a ton of shit you will never need, but are paying big for.

My mom has bought this expensive shitty "japanese" knife, made in China and it sucks. 20 years ago my father bought a massive Cutco set, the knives suck, most of them are never used and it was 2000$. My mom bought a eye wateringly expensive set of pots and pans. She bought them all because she didn't know better and we hardly use most of them. Not to mention their Teflon so once they are worn out, are garbage.

I do a lot of cooking and every day I use this vintage 20$ Japanese rust bucket of a knife. After thinning, lots of polishing, sharpening and rehandling, it's a beautiful and excellent performer.