After all that, I forgot to answer the original question!

My thought process & decisions based on my goals/needs/wants:

This is our first and probably last remodel so I want to get the best I can afford and that I like. Personally, I would rather spend my $$ on cabinets and flooring. While I know that others are happy with IKEA, I know that I would not be. The door styles with one possible exception were not at all to my liking and, to be honest, I'm not comfortable with the construction materials. Yes, I probably would put them in our basement laundry room, but not my kitchen. BUT, this is all MY opinion... Others will sing the praises of IKEA cabinets and that's fine for them...I just don't feel the same way.

As for appliances, I know I will probably be replacing them at least once so I'm going in to this remodel knowing that if I go low- or mid-end rather than high-end I will have the chance to get better ones later. In fact, I purchased a lower-end cooktop since I know I want induction later. Similarly for the DW. We cannot afford both the cabinets I want and the induction cooktop & DW I want right now...so cabinets won out.

Remember, all of this is based on MY priorities...yours may, and probably will, differ.

Good luck!