Been there man. Had a realtor read my whole scope back to me from a text thread she forwarded by accident, same deal. Best move is stick to your number and let the work speak, chasing their comparisons just trains them to keep shopping you against the next guy.

Man I felt this in my soul. For years I told myself the cheap way was fine and that real tools were just a waste of money for someone who only fixes stuff now and then. Then I stripped a tiny screw on a laptop back panel and spent two hours with a rubber band and a prayer trying to get it out, and I finally caved and bought a $15 precision driver set. Turns out those cheap tools were costing me way more in messed up parts than the good ones ever would have. Now I buy the right tool the first time and I kick myself for all the stuff I broke being stubborn.

Bought a free snowblower off a guy in Duluth, he had painted the auger housing bright yellow to hide a crack you could fit a hot dog in.