I would go for the $1k topas, but I paid full MSRP for our two 29" Topas. Keep in mind that in a year or 2, your Topas WILL look like it has been ran over by a few herd of elephants. The essential will probably still look like new a year or 2. BTW, I have seen the Essential Matte Black in person just a few weeks ago and it is not easy to tell that it is plastic from a distance. It actually looks pretty good.