I know exactly what you mean. I replaced my M2000 in May with a SBE 2, and I've loved it since the first shoot.
My friend bought the Stoeger a couple of weeks before me. He told me it was the same as the Benelli, so I took his word for it and bought the gun. Man was he wrong, the Stoeger is a great gun for the money, but the SBE 2 is awesome!!!
The day I went to but the gun the store owner told me he would sell me the SBE 2 in Max 4 for another $800. At the time I thought for the same gun, why spend the extra money. Man was I wrong, and now I've spent $1,300 for the Benelli and another $500 for the Stoeger. It was an Expensive lesson.
Anyone thinking of buying the Stoeger should save up the extra $800 and buy the SBE 2!!