Just looking around my kitchen, I have Grizwold, Wapak, Favorite Smiley, Lodge, Wagner, Wagner Ware, Old Mountain, Chicago Hardware, O'Brien & O'Brien, Miami / Favorite dual logo, BSR, a couple gate marked, a couple unbranded. I enjoy cooking in each and everyone. Some are worth more money than others. My go to for cornbread is my Grizwold. My go to for eggs is an unbranded #8. For omelet's I use a gate marked #9, but for Sunday morning sausage gravy I bust out the straight logo Wagner. I really love Sunday morning sausage gravy, partly because I get to use that pan.
I would not trade my beat up unbranded egg pan for a nice branded pan that doesn't cook eggs as well even though it is worth more money.
I have started collecting Wagner Ware smooth bottom pans, not because I think they are better than others, but because they are more easily found (in the wild) in my area. So I have a greater chance to complete a set.
I must say my most used pans are imported, "garage ash trays"
Hope my response doesn't scramble your brains, but it is kind of a "rabbit hole" question.