>>7509844To keep things brief, western toys generally have to:
Satisfy strict child safety regulations.
Fit into rounded price points to satisfy big box retailers.
Keep costs as low as possible so as to be affordable for parents and children (who will always be seen as the primary market for toys).
Japanese figures on the other hand overwhelmingly focus on the collector market. They can afford to use higher quality plastics, fit more paint aps into the budget, be molded with sharp pieces and include small accessories. The natural trade-off though is price.
Speaking personally, I will always prefer to pay more for a higher quality product of a character I like, rather than just go for the cheapest option.