One question I often ask folks is this: if they were all the same price, which octane grade would you buy? Same question is valid for oils, boats, etc.
I know it's not real, and I'm never looking to start a head butting session, but sometimes looking at issues this way helps to separate cost and quality, because I think many of us look at these issues from different perspectives. A guy running thru 2000 gallons a year will surely have a different perspective than me who would LOVE to run thru a fraction of that.
My 9-to-5 as a product development engineer at an oil company has taught me some things, and believe-you-me I'm a cheap-A Pennsylvania Dutchie at heart, and thankfully it's a free country (mostly), but the bottom line is I will only buy premium fuels. I see the differences of running different fuels in engines every day. Yes, there are exceptions to rules, and all engines are different, and sure as heck 2-strokes are different than 4-strokes, but I know what I'm buying - for sure.
Good chattin' - gotta run...