I've had the Ridgid jointer for a few years, and it's been a great
machine. Fit and finish are excellent, and it consistently produces
accurate results.

I don't think it's "down the ladder" from Jet at all. Most of these 6"
Taiwanese jointers come from the same manufacturer, and there isn't
really much difference between brands. The Jet has a welded, fully
enclosed base, while the Ridgid has a bolt-together stand. That's the
weight difference, and the Ridgeid takes a bit longer to assemble, but
that doesn't justify a 70% higher price to me.

As for the Powermatic, if you're seriously thinking about that kind of
money, look at 8" models.