Properly reshaping a blade is the first and most important role of the polisher. Without it, the rest is irrelevant. And it simply isn't possible to reshape a blade properly and quickly. So it's expensive. As it should be.
Inexpensive polishes are fine for gunto and production blades.
But there is nothing more disappointing than seeing a top notch blade in a poor foundation polish. No matter how nice the finish, the blade will have to be totally reshaped to bring out the true potential of the blade. My good friend Ted Tenold of Legacy Arts Swords has a marvelous article on polishing on his website. Please go visit his site and read the link on thoughts on polishing. Truly worth the time.