If you aren't faced with constant comparisons, a good quality import will do fine. It is when you are constantly presented with good US guitars in good shape that it becomes a problem. Once you hear it it eats away at you, to the tune of one or two thousand. And face it, percentage wise you are going up ten percent, but what a ten percent it is.
So lets hypothetically examine a worst case scenario with a pre 73 D 35. You find one that is in good condition "for it's age." It plays ok, no obvious cracks or loose braces. It has some fret wear, but heck, it plays ok, and yes, it has a fairly low saddle, but now it seems ok, so say you pay $800-900 for it. I'm figuring this is a very good deal. You buy the guitar and sometime someone tells you the bridge has been shaved, and how much better the guitar would sound with a good break angle. So you are where I started, but I paid $250 for mine 20 years ago, and it sat in my closet for a decade. I still put $1100 into it. So I'm all in for around $1400. This seems like a deal to me now.
So you decide on the works, and since your guitar has a Brazilian bridge, you have one made with a Brazilian blank. Nothing wrong with Indian, but still.....the neck gets reset, a refret, a nut and anything else. Now you have a $2000 guitar. One year, five years, or ten, keep the guitar, you are going to spend that for it eventually. Your $2000 guitar is worth $1500. My $1400 guitar was once worth $900. Not anymore.
So where does that leave us? Buy the import and have worry free guitar experience for a few years, maybe a decade. The tonal experience is fine, you haven't gone out and played a bunch of D 18s or a D 55. You are happy. Notice how many say the import is fine for the meantime? We know. Pay now, or pay later. Pay now and that worst case scenario will seem like a bargain in ten years. I've always wanted a good straight braced D 18 from mid sixties. My 70 Guild D 35 has hampered that effort, it's just that good, and I'm not into similar guitar multiples. And my D 35 just keeps growing on me, eight years later.
Here is the kicker. Once you live with forty or fifty year old wood, it gets under your skin. I play and derive great pleasure from my 07 Martin Custom D 35, and my 14 Custom 00 15, but picking up my Guild D 35 or my 65 Epiphone Texan just has a different vibe. You may not hear it, but if you do, welll sorry, it costs in money and effort, and time away at the doctors. But to me it is so worth it.
We all are on our journey of discovery and as always, YMMV. I'm fully aware, and don't care, that many would play my guitars and go, I'd rather have a new D 18. I took my D 35 camping last weekend with not a care over any dings that might occur. I couldn't tell you where they were anyway. But it took me 72 years to arrive at my conclusions, as it took 72 years to realize improving my skills was more important than any which guitar obsession could be. As they say, live and learn.
Now to middle ground. I'd say buying a D 25 from the eighties or nineties would be a fine alternative middle ground. You still might need fretwork, but basic geometry will be a much less likely issue. You'll get a robust, loud, punchy guitar. If I were in a band, I'd go directly to one of these and put a pickup in it. And when and if you get something "better', you'll have the world's best beater.