Not a real Scotch drinker myself, although I've never had an Oban I didn't like. I just think the pleasure per dollar is hard to beat with bourbon. A lot of these pics shown in the thread show bourbons I love and many I don't so this is pretty clearly a bit subjective...
Wild Turkey is great from their 101 on up. I've always felt that every extra dollar spent on one of their upscale products was that much better tasting but nothing wrong with base 101. Can't say that about others.
Old Forrester never disappoints. Can't say the entry 86 is a great value, but they have lots to choose from, just never know what's going to turn up at your local store.
Buffalo Trace and its relatives are good too. I prefer wheat over rye as the 2nd ingredient in the mash bill so BT fills the bill, although they have a green label rye now too I've no real desire to try.
Love the better Jim Beams, with Bookers being my old favorite, but its price is now far above the $50 limit that I and the original poster find reasonable.
For great value, I've gotten pretty excited lately about Ezra Brooks. Speaking of cheap, I used to always have Old Crow around to keep my oak barrel full, but I'm having trouble finding it lately. Any other Crow lovers finding the same?