I would usually say buy the best you can or even can't afford and sell it again if you don't master it. I had several modest buys but however my learning progressed these were never going to sound as though I could play.

I bought a £200 Gremlin guitar from a Sidmouth Arena stall.(Mainly to leave in open tuning). Not bad but the poor thing never comes out as it no way compares with my Gurian.
Yet a little guitar shop in Richmond Yorks had a room of resonators. I tried them all. Back at the counter I was amazed to find my choice was £200. Used regularly in open tuning (not bottleneck). Lorenzo, though I've seen several the same with other badges.
So you can't dismiss an instrument for being cheap either