There's a line?
Get what feels comfortable to you. When you go guitar shopping try before you buy. Check how the body feels while you're playing it. How the neck feels. How it sounds to you. Price doesn't always equate to better, some "cheap" guitars sound really great while some expensive guitars only sound moderately good. It's all about taste.
I've had some people make fun of my guitars. They sound good to me and feel good when I'm playing them. (Okay I do tend to smother my Strat, but it feels soooooo tiny.)
It's all about the connection you form with your guitar.
What is this "strumming" of which you speak?
Fender Squier Affinity HSS Stratocaster "Kelli"[br]Epiphone Les Paul Special-II LE "Callie"[br]Rogue RA-090 Concert Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar "Theresa"