Possibly disagree there. I've had a few debates over this, having changed a while ago now but in some ways, I regret giving my under £100 Roumanian built (I think) Portuguese style mando (mine was a "Vintage", similar also sold as Ozark...) away when I got the Buchanan.

Not a major problem to me as I also dabble with tenor banjo and no regrets in getting a nicer instrument but the general feeling after asking others seems to be that (although the latter is surprising for its small body), the cheap one was a bit easier to hear and the more expensive one is sweeter. The cheap one was also easier for me to hear myself on in a session.

Not sure about the digging in although I play with 1 - 1.14 picks these days and think of myself as being on the heavy handed side.