: Geeze, I was thinking of getting one. Is there a better brand to get that
: doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

There is a pretty high $$ penalty $$ when you start getting into Lie Nelson and Clifton; that would be the next step in quality. I sprung for a Clifton Shoulder Plane and I have a couple of Kuntz tools. You can try your luck with Stanley England and Kuntz; they'll be about the same as Record. Many articles on tools (and even catalogs) mention that a little tuning may be required for any new tool. I pretty much find that to be the case. I do a little tuning every time I sharpen a tool (lap the sole, etc.). It's not a big deal - get some silicone carbide paper, 3-in-1 oil and some small files ($10 total) and you can take care of any problems you might run into.

Generally, the main thing is lapping the back of the blade and sharpening it.