Something’s odd: in the US midrange clothing is from europe. Be they shoes, sweaters (pullovers) shirts, etc. Japan enjoys the same cachet. We also have domestic brands which enjoy similar preference.
While they tend to cost more, for the most part, unless you follow the vagaries of fashion, they are worth the extra money.
They're not just worth it in the sense that the difference is measurable, they're also often worth it in the sense that they're more economical over time.
I bought a belt from an American company after researching different leathers. It's lasting me years at this point. I'm sure it will last decades. It's crazy how much money I wasted before on belts that were a third of the price.
Both top grain and full grain have their uses, so it depends on whether you want some character in the item as it ages or not. Generally speaking if you don't know what to do, go with full grain. It's expensive, but it's great.
The only case where I'd recommend top grain over full grain is if you're buying something where the leather needs to stay in the background. Think a multi-material item like a bag that has both a bright cloth part and a muted leather part then you'll want top grain for the muted leather because it will keep a more consistent style over time so it won't split your attention when looking at it in the future.
I have found no other use for the other types of leather. I'm far from an expert, but from my research and personal experience I really think that the rest of the leather out there is complete garbage.
While they tend to cost more, for the most part, unless you follow the vagaries of fashion, they are worth the extra money.