I realize this is a very old thread, but I think where OP's argument went wrong is when he said "I was going to get a Gold Crown. But if I’m going to do that it has to be a 4 and a 4 was out of my price range." What he's overlooking is that the GC I/II/III are all better than most lesser residential models. So buying a Centurion while holding out for a GC IV doesn't really make a ton of sense.
But then, I own a GC I and I'm happy with it (I've owned a Diamond and an Olhausen in the past), so I guess I'm on the GC "side" of this debate.
I would also point out that any table is 50% the mechanic and the setup. I'd rather have a mid-level table set up beautifully by a top mechanic than an expensive new table set up poorly by people who don't know what they're doing. And in the latter case, "been there done that."