You're thinking of typical floppy schmopy brushes. Good badgers like the manchurian and old time two banders are an entirely different brand of animal.
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I agree with you entirely that these high quality badger brushes perform admirably. I enjoy some of them myself. But $200 $300 even more for these fine beasties can be a little daunting. I'm just advocating the use of Boars just because they punch well above their weight class for a mere 20 bucks or less for a good quality one. A painless investment that provides high yield especially for those just entering wet shaving.
I've used a boar brush all my shaving life until 2007 when I switched to straights and badger brushes. I started with the $10 tweeserman badger which was hands down better than my boars. Now after a dozen or so badgers I can't see going backward in civilization to the pig pen. Badgers are not expensive when you can salvage antique boar brushes with a new knot from golden nib for $25. bj
Still rate my well-used and dated Omega (boar) 11126 as my favorite brush. I also have a Rudy Vey replica of an M&F L7 with a 53mm+/- Muhle V2 synthetic knot which also ranks right up there.
You can get a best badger in a good size for probably around $60 which will still have backbone and not be scratchy.
How do you guys justify buying a $200 dollar brush with a marginally better performance when one way below that price range would have a the same effect and do the same thing?
You don't have to justify it is the answer. You want it, you buy it budget permitting. You are indulging in a bit of decadent excess for the pure pleasure of the ability to do so. At the very worst there is a bit of snob appeal too, possibly. Justify it never, for me at least.
Bob