Well, I went out and perused the other local bike shop, and I can really see the difference.
They had just one bike on consignment. An old Fuji 10 speed with the biggest steel frame possible and 36 spoke wheels for $150. I am really planning on going back for that one. If it won't work for me as it is, then it is an excellent candidate for conversion to a single speed or the like later on. The reason I'm thinking conversion is that the shifters are on the down tube.