I'm still sitting on the fence about making a decision about a decent,
yet affordable bandsaw.

The 'high-end' ones seem to rely on welded plate-style frames.
They must achieve the rigidity they're after, otherwise they wouldn't go
that route, eh?

That creates a fair bit of confusion as the crowded price-range under
1000 dollars for a 14" - 16+" unit is also covered by cast-iron units.

In some cases, virtually identical machines, in all aspect/features, can
be had either way for the same money. ONE of them has to be better?