Im just fine with how a well put together packer from HEB comes out. Doubt I will ever mess with any of the other.
I never bought a Prime brisket on purpose. Kroger had some prime briskets priced 1.77 lb. and mixed in with the choice that were on sale last year. I got home with 2 prime briskets unknowingly or I would have bought more. I will say that the Prime was absolutely one of the best 2 briskets I had ever smoked. I smoked a choice brisket 2 months ago and it wasn`t even close to the prime. I am a believer.
Ive eaten many of them. Have an uncle that is big into BBQ. He now only cooks prime briskets. Ive eaten his pre prime phase post prime phase etc. There is little difference. He also quit using mesquite and now will only cook with oak and swears its better etc. My opinion is there is negligible difference in any of it. Some briskets come out better than others etc. To me a prime brisket is not worth what they want for them. With everything there is decreasing returns for how much it costs. To me it just isnt worth it. Maybe its because I was an economics major or maybe im just easy to please.
Personally I think if you really know how to pick a brisket you can certainly get away with not getting prime. Just throwing numbers out but I would guess 30% of choice briskets are great but 90% of prime briskets are great. So going prime takes out any guess work.
I remember watching a YouTube video with some famous brisket postmasters. Cant remember exactly who. But they cooked a choice, prime, and Waygu brisket and blind tested and ranked the flavor. It was all over the board. One ranked choice best, another ranked Waygu best and I think the other ranked prime best.