Last edited Thu May 18, 2023, 01:02 PM - Edit history (1)

I bought my made in Mexico Stratocaster in 1993. I installed Van Zandt Vintage pickups (back when the Old Man was still making them) and a Hipshot Trem-setter and I've never looked back. Of course, I've not touched a "real" US built Strat since the mid-'70's, so perhaps I just don't know what I'm missing.
edit to add: Oops, I installed a set of Sperzel locking tuners as well.

Used all Fender parts & got exactly the neck I wanted to match the body colors.

To me, over 40+ years of playing I've concluded that once you have an instrument of good basic build quality the most important thing is to take the guitar to a good luthier & have it set up properly. I have several guitars I bought used because the price was too good to pass up & "out of the case" they didn't play all that well but after being properly set up they practically played themselves, it was like a whole different instrument.

So, I would say that a MiA & a MiM Strat would probably play equally well after some TLC from a competent luthier.

Beyond that I'd say it comes down to personal preference & budget.

I did replace the neck on the American made. Boogie Bodies birdseye maple, with same wood for the fingerboard.
The body is alder. I also replaced the vibrato with a Kahler, and the pickups with Seymour Duncan SSL-1s.
The Mexican made has an ash body and a rosewood fingerboard. Has Vintage Noiseless pickups.
Two Strats, but they sound nothing alike.
Where we differ is that I don't think one needs a luthier to do a setup on a Strat. There are hundreds of very good techs.
I wouldn't take my acoustics to them, but I would have no reservations about taking any of my electrics to several people within easy driving distance.
Way easier to find a good tech than a Luther.
I can do all that stuff on a electric myself, but it's hard to motivate myself, especially if I'll then need intonation on a Rose or Kahler. That's a pain, even with the right equipment. For that, I'll pay to have it done.
On any of my Fenders, I'll do it myself. (I didn't replace the pickups myself. I'm pretty hamfisted with a soldering iron.)