In the big scheme of things the LN is a low-end plane.
No you don’t want an LN, or a LV, plane. You want something much nicer. I saw that our own Derek Cohen did a review on this Philip Marcou plane; Chris Schwartz did a review on one as well. http://www.marcouplanes.com/reviews/S15BU-review/index.asp They have high praise for the quality of the tool. This plane is based on the Lee Valley Veritas design, but has some nice improvements. Is it worth 10x the price of a LV? Sure is! You’ll love the feel of it in your hand. It is so well made you can pass it on to your children and grandchildren. I’m not saying this to mock anybody that has posted—this is testimony from people who use the plane.
"... It is a plane to visit, take down and make a few gossamer shavings before retiring for the night. It is a plane about which to say to the progeny “someday this will be yours”. It is a plane which, when acquired, will demonstrate once again that men are as romantic as women, and for that reason alone it was a bargain."
The people who are willing to lay out over 2 grand of their money for a nice plane use the same reasoning to justify the purchase as those who buy a LN or a LV. I can imagine someone who bought the LN defending his purchase of a low-end user to someone who owns a plane as nice as the Marcou. What would you say? And would you sound like Marcus when you said it? Each of us has to pick our own poison, so to speak. If you want it and can afford it, go for it! On the other hand, if Marcus and I decide that we can fettle an old Stanley and it works well, then that is an option too. Obviously the old Stanley planes are made well enough to hand down to future generations—that is why they are still here for us to use. Your grandchildren will have to fettle granddad’s old LN. If they decide it just isn’t worth their time to tune up, then maybe my grandson can buy it in an online auction for under $50!:D