I agree with you and will always go for the best protection I can afford. However the original Hurt Report [on street incidents] back in the day did come up with data to contradict the old "$10 dollar helmet for a $10 dollar head"........ The big difference was between helmet/no helmet, not much between different price helmets. Don't remember what they came up with regarding clothing.
Helmets are all tested to the same standards, and price differences often only gets you differences in terms of venting and weight, and perhaps quality in other areas not tested.
I would not want thin cheap leathers.
