Thanks everyone, this thread is really a big help to me, opens my eyes as well as will let me focus on the important things.
I am definitely cost oriented as math man said, but I also hate cheaply made products.
Thanks Lfc and others for the good comments again, I am taking all of this down on paper so I can purchade what I need as the opportunity comes.
For emphasis I'll repeat that the basic Lyman press I mentioned is cast iron, not pot metal or aluminum as are other low cost options.
Note: I am well aware of some very high quality presses made from aluminum, but those are a different animal than what's being discussed here.
