My 2 cents
I’m prefacing this with the fact that I have only owned a few SRAM drivetrains, I like Shimano a lot, and use it exclusively for the road. I feel that Shimano chains are slightly more eager to make a quick and clean shift, I have never used Whipperman. Don’t pinch pennies on a crucial component: regardless of brand, XTR/Dura Ace or XT/Ultegra level Shimano, SRAM seems to do the mid range price a little better. Wear doesn’t matter to me, I frequently throw a new chain on at 2,000 miles or so, I get a lot of life from cassettes and to a lesser extent chainrings.