I hate to sound like a broken record but they are completely different guitars. This you already know.. it really comes down to which one sounds the best when it is not plugged in, in my opinion, when it is an issue of quality. If I said that the Mex-Strat was better and you went and bought one, then you found out the quality really sucked.. who's fault is that? :) Not mine.. because I didn't get to play the guitar before you bought it.

Having said that.. each style of guitar does tend toward a certain style of playing.. I know.. you don't want to hear it.. but it's true. :) I have an Epiphone SG for hard rock, a passive pickup strat for blues and an active pickup strat for jazz/progressive-rock.. and I am saving up for an Ibanez Prestige RG1570 for progressive-metal. I've played some seriously flawed American Fenders, and some equally flawed Gibsons.. and then I've played some of the most beautiful unknown brand guitars that put those ones to shame...

There was a similar thread about Mexican made strats not long ago..