I use Lodge cast iron skillets and have a le Creuset Dutch oven and braiser... I based my decision to get Le Creuset for the enameled pieces based on seeing how my mother in law's looked after 30 years of hard cooking. The inside of hers is discolored but has no cracking, chipping or anything else. I am surprised people are saying Staub is less expensive because they're comparable prices where I was shopping. Staub looked really nice too but the le creuset pans I was looking at were actually slightly less expensive (like $20) and I liked the colors better. If you're talking buy it for life, I think the colors matters because you're going to be looking at it a long time so it makes sense to spend on something you absolutely love.