Like automobiles, there is a huge variety of doors and windows with varying prices. If you're in Florida, I'd check out PGT.

Not sure where in MD you are located, but Windows on Washington may serve your area. Great guy, and he sells "installed" or DIY. On product, for wood the big 3 makers are all pretty decent. (although I only like the Designer series in Pella). Some people like that screen, others don't. I installed one for my parents several years ago, and the bug thing is overblown by competitors with the interior screen. If you want bang for the buck, vinyl can't be beat. They'll generally offer superior performance numbers as well. My favorite is the okna/Himark offering, with a .26 u value, and .06 air infiltration rating. The latter is unheard of as sliding doors go. Sunrise and Softlite have nice offerings as well.

We installed an Anderson sliding french doors two years ago. Love it! It was expensive but worh every penny! If we had the room to do true french doors that swing open we would have done that. Don't give it a second thought! They really upgraded the look of our home and set the tone for our kitchen remodel and updated our whole first floor. The Anderson door glides well, feels solid and looks beautiful.

I've done some more research since my OP - my reason for changing out the old wood-clad for vinyl (instead of wood-clad) was to save money. The wood-clad sliding patio doors that I like are Marvins, and they are very expensive. The hybrids do not seem to be much of money savings over the wood-clad. If you are saying that vinyl, which will save me money, won't look nice, then I may as well go back to wood-clad, and try to find the budget for a good wood-clad sliding glass door. What is the next rung down in price from Marvin wood-clad sliding patio doors, but still good quality? I know I do not want Pella. I am hoping the kind people on this forum will suggest a good bang-for-the-buck brand in a wood-clad sliding patio door. Thank you.