Hi algae
I personally gave up on aluminium non-sgtick pans years ago - whether titanium coated or gold plated

. The non stick always wears through.
Here in the UK I can buy a set of 3 stainless steel pans and frying pan in most super-markets for around the £20 mark ( $30 US ??).
I have bought mine individually as accidents happened and have noticed that stainless steel is very forgiving when it comes to accidents so that I have now been totally stainless for about 5 years and they're all in good condition for their age.
Being an ecstatically divorced male of the species, pans are for cooking with - not looking at - so although the esthetics don't bother me my daughters like the look of them when they come round.
Hope this helps