just my 2 cents worth..perhaps it depends on one's horological learning & acquistion curve?
some, after having owned mainstream brands, perhaps then one moves on to independents when he's the purchasing power, sense of adventure and pure love of the timepiece...
independent brands to me refers to very limited product of their time pieces..i would consider AP,PP, Blancpain and etc as mainstream although they own/manufacture their own movement and have a rich, old heritage. Independents that i would associate with will be speake marin, christopher claret, MIH, MB&F and Urwerk which are equally superior in manufacture, tech know-how, design, materials, the reputation of the people who are working on the timepiece, and more limited in production.
i wouldn't take chances on new funny funny ones that sprout out in almost every Basel event for the fear that they may not last..that will mean that the watch will be "worthless" (economic terms), hard to get rid off and who to send to when we need to service the watch? example: wyler, nubeo, alain silberstein (this is a surprise that they're no longer around) and etc...
if i've deep pockets...yeah i would go for independents...but then...i'm simply not there yet...
