I did have quite a collection of Guitars up until a couple of years ago. The most at any one time would have been about 8, when I was still playing professionally.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and surprisingly my fingers have been the last thing to be affected. I can still play but it's very painful. Generally only accoustic now.
I only have one accoustic, a 1979 Yamaha Jumbo. Nothing else can come near the sound, or the action.
I still have my newest electric, a Gibson ES335 (1988)
and I have my favourite, a (pre Jap, 1974-5) Ibanez Artist (pictured above........beautiful, but very heavy for long performances).
They are the only three I've got left now. But I only ever had one Fender electric, it was about a mid '80's Telecaster. I had a Fender accoustic Hummingbird.
Of the six or so guitars I had when I had to stop playing seriously, the others have been given to a friend (1) and a relative (2) (one of which was my Lennon Rickenbaker). I couldn't sell them to just anyone. They had to go to a good caring home. You all should understand that. You'll find most musicians who have a guitar for any length of time and they're fond of it, will give it to someone they know who will look after it and care for it, rather than sell to some rich brat who's going through a "faze", so daddy buys him one.
As for advice, awash, choice of guitar is a very personal thing. Preferences come more from playing as many as you can get your hands on, over a long period. Fenders ars good guitars (and expensive, as you say).
My favourite brand has always been Gibson (even more expensive!).
As someone else said, there are some cheaper versions of Strats around, and have been for about 10 or 15 years, but I don't know the technical differences or where they come from.
For instance, I do know that the price of Ibanez guitars went down considerably during the '70's (along with the quality) when they began being made in Japan. I don't know if that's still a bad thing.
I don't think anything good came from the "mass production" assembly line type manufacturing of guitars. They have always been a hand made instrument, at least among the better, worthwhile brands. Good Luck.