Hm, that's a tough one - but I think I prefer three $3 orchids, put 'em in a basket together and grow a $50 orchid by the next year.
My attrition rate has dropped significantly so far this summer, but I'm not in the clear yet - especially with a hurricane going by towing 3 days of wind and rain along with it. Still can't justify spending big bucks on one orchid, since every time I've done that so far, they have died off within 2 years.