I've had a Lee Pro-1000 since 1995. I've loaded quite a bit of 10 mm ammo on it, and saved a lot of money over buying factory ammo. I also learned a lot more about shooting, and discovered that reloading is an interesting and fun hobby in its own right.
I wouldn't argue with anyone who bought a Dillon press, for two reasons. 1) Dillon makes good stuff. 2) I've learned not to argue with people about their religion. I think Lee owners are very satisfied with their presses and enjoy reloading, but seem to be a more pragmatic bunch. Dillon owners seem more emotional about their choices. I can understand that. I like good tools.
If you are reloading hundreds of thousands of rounds, the Dillon will probably be more robust. But I think this is beyond what most shooting enthusiasts will do. The very inexpensive Lee press has been more than adequate for my needs and has actually been quite durable. It just cranks out the quality ammo. I might add a bullet feed, to go with the primer feed and case feeder, so I just keep everything topped off and pull the handle.
If I was doing it again, I'd spend the extra money for a Lee Loadmaster. It's more solid, and has five stations instead of three so I can use the factory crimp die as the last step, even though the ammo I load on the Pro-1000 has been very accurate in my Glock. Besides, even if I did manage to wear out a Lee press, I could buy another and still save a few hundred dollars over the cost of a decent blue press.
And when I say "the extra money for a Loadmaster", I'm talking about $175 complete with dies, factory set up and ready to load ammo. This has been the recent selling price on eBay for brand new units drop shipped from the Lee factory. They're a little bit more at Midway and other online suppliers.
Overall, I believe Lee offers good quality and great value. Richard Lee invented home reloading and Lee Precision has introduced most of the innovations in that market. Their dies are the very best, as well as the very least expensive.
I've been casting my own lead bullets for the 10 mm, using a Lee Production IV melt pot and a Lee six cavity tumble lube bullet mold. It's a lot of fun. With a bullet trap, I reuse my lead as well as the brass. My cost to shoot the 10 mm is now 3-4 cents per round.
I just bought an old neglected Lee LoadFast progressive 12 gauge shot shell reloader, and am getting it back in shape. A little rust, and a cracked primer feed, but nothing seriously wrong. The press sold for the price of the 1000 wads and 1000 Winchester AA hulls that came with it, so my investment in the press will be $10 in repair parts and $30 for spare parts I might need later.
If you want the BEST and BEEFIEST single stage press, check out the new Lee Classic press. It's about $54 at Midway, and thoroughly beats the quality or performance of the RCBS or Hornady presses, for a lot less money. I'm planning on getting one to load match target rifle ammo. Lee is working on .50 BMG dies, which should go a long way toward lowering the sky-high cost of reloading for a .50 BMG.
If you want a Dillon, go right ahead. It'll only hurt once. Besides, someone needs to pay for the black helicopter, the machine guns, and the gun toting supermodels. It might as well be you.