Buy your boats used.
You can indeed afford boats that are built well.

I am very new to boating and I realize I may be starting an argument which
is very much not my intention, I'm just trying to learn here.

Would there be a difference between being built well and being able to
survive being smashed into pilings by 74 mph winds in a hurricane?

I swear to god that's not intended as flamebait, I honestly thought a well
built boat could still fare badly if loose in a hurricane.