Dude, c'mon. No one here is saying that a $200-$800 machine is suitable to work anywhere close to 8 hours a day at anywhere close to 100% rating. We're talking about a machine for very, very... occasional home hobby use. Again, I'm not paying $2k for a plasma cutter for 30 minutes use a year, 99% of which will be for less than 1/4" thick steel at a few minutes at a time.
Just like I don't need a $200 Snap on ratchet when a $40 gearwrench works just as well.
To be fair, the OP specified wanting a "quality unit but not an industrial unit" without specifying a price range. I think we'd have to agree that a $200 box isn't exactly a "quality unit" and that the mid-range $1000-ish units are probably a better fit for that vague description. $2500 though, being the opposite extreme of the $200 box.
On order, you've convinced me. Pretty sure if it works out of the box, and I get a couple hours happily hacking and slashing steel out of it before it fries, I'll get my $200 out of it in pure entertainment value. God knows, I've spent considerably more for less. If it's useful, I like it, can see where one would be handy to have around...then we can talk spending $2500 on one if/when it craps out. Again, I've spent considerably more for less. But my suspicion is that it'll be perfectly fine for the very limited uses I have for one.
Most of the use I'll get out of it, is to fill in the annoyingly empty slot on the cart my very rarely used MIG welder sits on. Since I mostly (still) use a stick welder or braze, same as I ever did. I'd imagine, that most of my metal cutting will still be done with my perfectly serviceable powered hacksaw (same as for the last 50-odd years), a cut-off wheel, my circular saw, or a torch. Same as I ever did. Seriously doubt buying a plasma cutter is going to cause me to have a burning desire to buy a $3-5k entry level CNC/plasma table (for what, exactly?) or learn computer programming so I can use it (to make what, exactly?). If by some fluke it does...then the $200 cost is less than the cost of the consumables a quality unit would burn through learning how to use one.
I've personally have had bad luck with the Amazon specials, and known other people as well to have problems with them. They work until they blow up, then there is no support, and then you throw them out.
I've had pretty good luck...it depends on your expectations. Generally, in life, you get what you pay for. But occasionally, you get pleasantly surprised. In this specific instance, we're talking a $200 plasma cutter. You think anyone expects it to perform and have the service life of a $2500 box? Exactly what are the expectations of it? Pretty low? I'm thinking "work until it blows up, and then throw it out". To my mind, the only real question is whether or not I get $200 worth of use out of it before it blows up. Because at that price point, it's essentially a disposable/expendable bit of hardware. The box itself is a "consumable", just like the cutting tips. It's not like I'm expecting a family heirloom tool, to be passed down through the generations...
. Of course, the reviews are good enough that it's obviously a pretty good unit. 
