I'm a fan of cheaper cams but there's a point where either video quality or reliability just doesn't cut it well enough. Plenty of cams below that level
Most of the 'high-end' cams have issues or oddities that turn me off, but some of their features can't be found reliably in anything else. You don't get what you don't pay for, but with a lot of cams you don't always get what you pay for either- it's a minefield to sort through
My 'bottom line' choice is the G1W-HC, a capacitor-based cam which tolerates heat well and for me has been quite reliable. About $35 from GearBest
It's got the NT96650 processor and the AR0330 sensor, a known good combination which was once considered very good but has been surpassed with newer technology. Of my 2, one has some weirdness in the red recording LED but it records properly otherwise and the vids are good enough.
Moving up a notch there's the newish G1W-S with a Sony sensor which provides great low-light recording at under $60
Also cap-powered this has a different circuit board than the other G1W series cams, basically sharing only their case. IMHO it is the best bang for your buck at the moment and I plan to buy another (or more) in time
The Viofo A118C is another solid performer using caps, but not as good at night, and the Chupad D501 is another wedge cam bargain that is battery-powered. And there's the hoary old Mobius- always a worthy contender which just doesn't seem to ever die. Not exactly plug-and-play, but add the caps and once you set it up it runs like the 'energizer bunny'
Some cheap cams can be OK but if you really want something good, you have to pay more. Most folks now consider 1080P/30FPS the minimum acceptable performance and I do too. Less than this loses details which can matter. The above cams do this, but better can be had at a good value so I'm moving up a bit as funds allow because my vehicle and me are w0rth that investment
You pays your money and you makes your choice, but it's your own fault if you go too cheap and your choice fails you when you need it the most.
Phil