I am a newbie, and almost ordered two (2) L'cheapo sets of both blue and brass, unitil I searched here at GBO.  So much more to read!
Out-of-box fit is more important than colour.  I would not mind medium rock-tumbled texture.  Sometimes I tumble brass castings with a few cup-fulls of small #10 nickel chromium alloy steel (stainless) screws for a slightly-grey antique finish.  Steel may have better strength and reliability.  There are many brass and/or bronze alloys, red, yellow, leaded, unleaded, naval, etc..  I have also heard of a black-oxide finish brass.  I don't like an aluminum-steel dissimilar metals arrangement though.  How much to spend upon a $448.68 BC-1871 - hmmn? - it would still be hundreds less than a Remington-Marlin and almost thousand less than USRA-BAC-Miroku.
There should be an advertising-disclosure law about using plastic parts.