We often talk about why one brand of dies or press is better than another...then someone disagrees. Then the discussion changes to why Brand A is better than Brand B. And the thread devolves. Which will likely happen to this one, but...
I would be interested to hear about your first set of dies and press. How did you end up with them? I know that most people have a mix of brands now, due to later purchases.
What about your first? Why did you buy them? Were they new or used? Bought at a gun shop, or a gun show, or out of the back of a van somewhere?
My first was a Lee Loader. My press was a wooden hammer.
I bought it because a friend showed me his 243 Lee Loader, so I went to the LGS and got one. I don't remember the price. I do remember getting 100 primers, 100 bullets, and a pound of 3031 though. No cases. I couldn't afford it.