I knew we would eventually get here. Before I continue, take a look at this website...it can be an eye opener.
https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/
Correlation between a safer helmet and $$$, is not all that high. You can find certain $600+ models of Schuberth that are not as safe a $100 Scorpion ones. I've have threaten for years to buy $50 Chinese helmets and mark them up to $500+ so people would buy them thinking they were the safest.
I agree, just because it costs alot, doesn't mean it's good.
And, alot of good stuff is made in China...and so is alot of junk.
No way am I trusting my life to a helmet of unknow quality.
I have seen alot of bike wrecks, and the helmets afterwards.
Friend of mine looped his 07 gsxr1k 11 years ago this month...wearing my Shoei.
100+mph standup wheelie, hit a bump in the road(when a cable is ran under the road and the roads is slightly raised above it).
It got a scuff on the back, and scratched the sheild badly.
According to our friends behind him, his head hit the road first. I went and saw the scene, and the peg groove from the sliding bike was over 100 yards long. He had on a t-shirt and shorts, got a strawberry on his hip about the size of a quarter, and a broken thumb. Nearly killed the new rider who stupidly passed him(looped bike flew into him from behind), months in intensive care, but his Shoei helmet looked almost unscathed too, and he had no head injuries either.
Another friend had a cheap HJC(which I've had)split open from hitting a wooden fence rail(high sided R6 at 100+mph), but no head injuries, just the rest of him severely f'd up for a few years.
I've owned and tried alot of helmets over the years.
Shoei's are expensive, but they fit me well, and I trust them to protect MY head as best as possible.
To each their own.