text: It's really a matter of quality, isn't it? When there is little to distinguish between two items, aside from brand name recognition and status, I'm comfortable with the less well-known brand. But if the quality of the merchandise suffers when choosing the generic or no-name brand, I'm compelled to go with the known brand.\n\nDoes this make me brand conscious? I guess it does in part but not entirely. I am certainly not going to feel embarrassed, let alone demeaned, by selecting a product that is just as good as the name brand one. Honestly, who cares? I don't.\n\nThe single most expensive branded item I have? Isn't that just asking what is the single most expensive item I have, period? I mean, everything has a brand name of some kind. Certainly big ticket items like cars have brand names, right? So, by that standard, assuming my car to be the most expensive purchase I've made that has a brand name, wouldn't said car be the most expensive item I own even if it were not a prestige brand? Are you following my logic? \n\nI'm afraid I've no half-baked stories for you but I do think I've otherwise addressed all your questions -- and asked a few of my own, in the bargain. Cheers! ;-)