We grew up with an IGP, moved away & live on a road where all but 3 houses at the time had a AGP ~ ours being one of them, and one house is a home to elderly people. We are very close with our one neighbors. They have had a basic AGP for 17+ years (there abouts) it now needs a liner, but the liner they have although on it's way out is still working. I believe they have purchased one filter, their died last summer. 3 of them installed the pool themselves Mom, Dad in their 40's at the time and their 20 something daughter. You wouldn't know it was installed by anyone other than a hired professional outfit & you would have no idea it is a basic AGP. Their skimmer is tinier than what I am used to seeing but I was used to the skimmers we had for our IGP.
Last year we bought an AGP ~ my daughter was turning 7 and wanted to host her own pool parties even though the neighbors extended an open invite, I realized there had to be times when they wanted alone time in the pool ~ even when their Granddaughter was begging my daughter to come over and swim. So a pool for us made sense. We purchased middle of the road ~ we would have gone bargain basement, but my Mom was a pool stores mail carrier for 32 years and they hooked us up. We actually could have had anything we wanted and I had to be kind of forceful insisting 27' was large enough for us.
All of the AGP's on this road have been installed and used heavily for years (some decades) I don't think any of them are top of the line ~ but they get plenty of use and I see zero catastrophes, none of them are rusting or blowing sides out. Haven't even seen a liner replacement.
I would say spend what you can afford, but don't think because you are spending less you aren't going to get longevity. Install it properly, making sure your area is prepared as it should be ~ don't take shortcuts. Take care of your pool & equipment and everything should be just fine.
We purchased either 2 or 4 top of the line Chevy Trucks one year. Had to wait for them to come off the line. They were lemons ~ had injector issues. Anything can be a dud. Paying top dollar doesn't ensure there won't be problems. So don't get yourself in a financial bind just because you think in the long run it will save money ~ that isn't always the case.
Whatever you pick ~ enjoy :