However, the imports are usually MUCH less expensive, offsetting some of the quality issues for home shops.
Prices go up with quality.
One of the main complaints about Taiwanese machinery is the lack of replacement parts and service. Grizzly claims that they keep a supply of parts on hand for all their machines. A few years ago Fine Woodworking magazine published an article on this subject. Sherline and Unimat sell a milling add-on. Unimat seems to charge quite a bit more than normal for accessories.