Have to agree with the observations that the output from some micros can be of tremendous quality, but having thrown myself into the world of watches with chaotic enthusiasm quite late in life, I've also found that there are many Swiss and German brands producing some great watches which remain stubbornly under-the-radar, yet cost no more than the micros and affordable Japanese makers.
The more I learn, and the more I handle a variety of watches, the more I seem to be valuing those where attention to detailing, quality of materials, and most of all, robustness has been paid. I especially enjoy watches I feel I can wear all the time without fear of damaging them - which has meant a move away from polished finishes, Titanium, aluminium bezels, plexiglass,
&c.
I now have 10 slot box for my "dailies", which contains 2x Damasko, 1x Sinn, 2x MWC, 1x Alpina, 1x Zeno, 1x Tauchmeister and the odd-man-out - a recently-arrived Nivrel Coeur-de-la-Sarre. Right now, there's a good chance my collecting will add more Sinn, Archimede, Haldor, Dievas and suchlike.
All that said, I daresay that if I'm above the turf 10 years from now, I'll be a one-watch R*l*x fanghurl, like any right-thinking chap...