Sorry for any confusion on my end. I was not trying to start a Trek vs Fuji brand war. The OP listed three Fujis, the top of which was about equal to the bottom of the three Treks listed. Thus my statement, the Fujis were better bargain, the Treks were better bike. Not brand comparison, just a model comparison. Almost all major brands have equal offerings at similar prices. We can all quibble over a couple hundred bucks but in the total cost of cycling (bike, gear, clothes, etc) it's not a statistical difference.
as far as anyone who says buyers waste money on R&D at major brands - not true. Research and Development is a worthwhile investment, it gets you better technology and quality. Not the same as marketing/advertising, that is where money is often wasted.