To me guns are a lot like cars...you can buy a Yugo every few years or buy a car that will last for decades...quality always costs more but tends to be worth it in the long run.
I understand your point, but I would note that one would be very hard pressed to wear out an 870. I have one in my safe that is over 50 years old and going strong. There are guns with over 100K rounds down the pipe going that are still doing fine. Buy the time you (or more likely for most people there grand kids) buy enough rounds to wear out an 870 the purchase price will pale in comparison.
Personally for my go to stuff, if it is something I will only need to buy once I try to buy the nicest I can afford (nicest sometimes is the most costly and sometimes not).