While I don't particularly have very many scale models and these engines are more than what I'd like spend. These are absolutely beautiful locomotives, I don't get all the negative comments!
Also, if you want this set on a budget, Lionel, MTH and others offer models that may or may not be scale but are also very nice. Give it some time, I'm sure Lionel will have LC+ 2.0 version that will cost much less and look almost as good.