My feeling on generators is this - let your frequency of use determine how much you wanna spend. By all means, if you have the money and don't mind spending it, get the best u can. That said, if it's gonna sit around for a year or two and NOT be used, then there's no need to buy an super expensive model.
Personally, I dont abide by the "get a good one so it'll work when u need it to", cause gas goes bad and carbs clog, and pull strings break just as easily on a Honda as it will for a champion. And yes, I've had a Honda at work that I barely used, wouldn't start, had the pull string break, and needed a total carb rebuild for a machine less than 3 years old with hardly any time on it.
I'd buy a $400 or $700 machine. It'll work fine. If the carb gets fucked, u buy a whole new carb for $30 and it'll run like new. Read the reviews of the smaller HF generators. People who actually own them sware by them, and parts are readily available online. Even portable generacs use Chinese motors from Lifan I believe. You dont see people buying new lawn mowers every 3 years do you? Almost anything that has an engine these days has import Honda clone engines. Even utility companies buy champion generators for emergencies. My location at Verizon bought about 5 Honda's and 10 champion generators after Sandy.
Yes - a Honda or Yamaha IS better. But those machines are built with frequent, commercial use in mind, and alot of the cost is a result of their R&D to make them run a little more quiet. If you live in the middle of Alaska and your livelyhood depends on the machine, yes, buy a Honda or Yamaha.
If u wanted to buy a pick up truck that you'd only use a few times a year, would u feel it was necessary to buy a brand new f350 powerstroke for $70,000 so it could sit around not being used? Anyway, that's my feeling, people's opinions will differ though. Only u can make the best educated decision.
Another thing to consider is this, generators that are cheap to buy, are also cheap to fix. If a $400 HF needed $150 in parts 10 years down the road, I'd happily go buy another for $400. I have a 30? Year old Yamaha snow thrower. Thing still runs great, but the day it dies I'll be fucked cause it's impossible to find parts for, and used parts can cost half as much as I paid for the thing when I bought it a few years ago.
Another model I would personally consider, is that Bluetooth Ryobi model home Depot sells. Check it out online. I believe you can monitor output and fuel level from your phone. I dont think it's a 3000 watt unit though, but it comes with a nice extending handle and wheels on the back to move it around easy.
. I'd have a hard time not buying either a Honda or Yamaha if I were looking for a true inverter output and extreme noise attenuation.