And now for my disagreement: I feel buying a grey market piano is like burning money in your fireplace. The pianos you can get for $3,000 are likely in need of total rebuilding (an operation worth doing in just a handful of instruments). I have heard of no Japanese worthwhile piano other than Yamaha and Kawai (Kawai light years better IMO). Yamahas and Kawais, though, are in the same price range with Irmler, a Polish piano designed by Bluthner, that is twice light years better.
Since I bought the Irmler, I have learned of two pianos that while not as good as what I got, I probably would have gone for sooner than 6 years and plateau until I could trade them in for a Mason BB. I have not played these two pianos ... so take my comments with a grain of salt.
If the piano is for a more advanced player with the means to spend more, I think the advice you're giving is very sound.
Once you cross that limit between acceptable and crappy, I think a sturdy digital is the way to go. No tuning, easy to move, and cheaper. they are crappy, but actually not as crappy as some stuff i have seen for sale.
For new, definately go Chinese. They are way less expensive, and just as good qualilty as anything new out of Asia.
I may draw the line between "acceptable" and "crappy" differently than you do, but in principle I quite agree with your statement about getting a good digital instead of a truly crappy acoustic.