The Republic saves you about 500-600 over the endeavor right? That's mainly on the door it seems, I think that the Republic is a very good deal. The Endeavor is a great all-around stove that people on here seem to love, and it's the one featured on all the videos on the Lopi website. The Republic is just about the same stove.
I am not sure what all you miss out on with these other stoves. Probably the thickness of the steel and durability of the parts and firebricks I am guessing. The "better" more expensive makes also back up their stoves with pretty good warranties and have replacement parts available for a long time to come, which the cheaper stoves may not. Lots of people on here run cheaper stoves as secondary stoves and most seem to feel they are decent. I guess it's just whether you want something as a "starter" to get you going and use for a few seasons or unknown period of time, or one that will last you a long while and have some "resale" value left if you change your mind down the line.
I was in a similar situation to you, and was very swayed by the lower prices and availability of the cheaper makes. But in my case I was looking for an insert, and none of the cheaper makes or even Englander/Summer's heat made one that claimed to heat more than 1500 sq feet max, or extended out of the fireplace to give more "in the room" heat or a cooktop. So I ended up back with Lopi which is the one I had liked to start with. I missed out on a craigslist Lopi Revere early in the season that I could have gotten for $1000, which was a major bummer, since I spent over twice that on the Republic insert a couple months later, but c'est la vie. I have been REALLY pleased with the Republic. I wonder if you would need an even bigger stove than that though... but good luck with your decision!
I am not sure what all you miss out on with these other stoves. Probably the thickness of the steel and durability of the parts and firebricks I am guessing. The "better" more expensive makes also back up their stoves with pretty good warranties and have replacement parts available for a long time to come, which the cheaper stoves may not. Lots of people on here run cheaper stoves as secondary stoves and most seem to feel they are decent. I guess it's just whether you want something as a "starter" to get you going and use for a few seasons or unknown period of time, or one that will last you a long while and have some "resale" value left if you change your mind down the line.
I was in a similar situation to you, and was very swayed by the lower prices and availability of the cheaper makes. But in my case I was looking for an insert, and none of the cheaper makes or even Englander/Summer's heat made one that claimed to heat more than 1500 sq feet max, or extended out of the fireplace to give more "in the room" heat or a cooktop. So I ended up back with Lopi which is the one I had liked to start with. I missed out on a craigslist Lopi Revere early in the season that I could have gotten for $1000, which was a major bummer, since I spent over twice that on the Republic insert a couple months later, but c'est la vie. I have been REALLY pleased with the Republic. I wonder if you would need an even bigger stove than that though... but good luck with your decision!