Yes I assumed it was a top priority. Guilty! But how often do you see recommendations given to new members for top-of-the-line equipment? Do we tell new members to buy 3 Kanayamas to start out with? (in case they nick the first two)? Grab an Escher on Ebay? Custom Damascus razor with MOP scales? Should a guy's first piece of any equipment in this hobby be high on the cost spectrum? I'll answer that hyperbolic list of rhetoricals with a probably not. Additionally, he may not like wetshaving at all; he could find himself with a used (gross!) shaving brush.
I'll concede that brushes are not exactly like those other things...he's less likely to nick a brush, or damage it from dropping for that matter. But in this economy it's not a stretch to assume that price is a key factor. Plus, at least we didn't punt on the question.