As far as the money goes, I went into Guitar Center with $2000 to buy an acoustic 3 years ago looking for a big blonde Gibson, and I walked out with a $680 Tacoma DM9. I haven't regretted it at all. It was in the back room of the acoustic area of Guitar Center where they keep the expensive stuff, and it sounded better than anything on the wall that I played.
Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas...