I prefer better guitars too. But what will determine the quality of your recording or performance weighs much more heavily on your playing than on your instrument. The sound is mainly in your fingers. If you want to pay another grand to get an American Les Paul instead of an Agile, go for it...but I doubt you'd get $1000 of better sound.

That said, I play an American Strat from the Fullerton plant, a '72 Rickenbacker bass, and an Alvarez Yairi acoustic. I just know that I can make cheaper guitars sound like they're being played by me, rather than having it all come down to build quality. So I'm a fan of well-made cheapos.