Accessories and other components vary in price. People tend to advertise FRS in comparison to a cellphone. Do not get confused. This is misleading. ALL transmissions may be listened to by other FRS users, or those people with scanners.
Many people equate radio power output with performance.
This is essentially the wrong attitude to approach. Reviews of equipment generally show equal performance, regardless of power output. You can for most purposes assume you will get .75 mile minimum effective range. All FRS units are compatible with one another in basic operation. These tones are just in a different order.