I don't think you're going to find much quality difference between brands and models at the $200 to $500 price point. Once you pass the $1000 mark you're likely going to find more differentiation.

I probably wouldn't pay to repair an HDMI board on a product that was $400 three years ago if a similar spec current product was $250. If the repair were free or less than $30, maybe. But you'll end up paying more than $30 just for round-trip shipping.