Couple things, first to the main question, I think the entry level term is used more for regular LionChief sets and it does a pretty good job describing them. a $100-300 complete set is pretty inexpensive, as far as O gauge goes. additionally, these sets are basic affairs with cheaply made parts and engines not designed to be particularly robust. They are children's toys or talking pieces for folks not really into model trains, for the most part.
Lion Chief Plus, on the other hand is pretty much taking the quality of the tmcc semi-scale products and putting an updated and less expensive control system in it. they are fairly good quality products rivaling the top end products of decades past. These are not entry level, but instead take on the role of the main stable for many folks. For me there is no difference in someone that runs LC+, Post war, or TMCC engines as far as their commitment to the hobby.
Second thing, It upsets me that people still thing of LC/+ as a downgrade on technology. The actual tech at the heart of legacy is the same tech used for x10 home automation in the 1970's. LC/+ offers less features only because it was designed to be simpler. You can already see the model shifting from the outdated system in legacy to bluetooth, the same tech as LC, and I suspect the next full command system will do away with the antiquated track signal entirely. This entire argument is sort of like saying your new computer is worse than the one in Applo 11 because it won't get you to the moon. It wasn't designed to.
