My two cents is that the warranty makes a huge difference in the overall value equation, thus B&R. Luggage gets thrashed, particularly checked luggage over time. B&R will fix or replace their stuff forever, making your upfront investment well worth it over the long haul.

I've owned a number of different brands over the last 30+ years, (remember Andiamo?), and have become a fan of B&R for their warranty.

They're not the most stylish, and even not the most functional in certain situations (their spinners could be a little better designed), but over the long haul, the ROI wins the day for me.