I've had Kitchenaid DW and found it OK. I absolutely love, however my Bosch (have my second now). The basic Bosch is very economical and has all the features you need. Favorite part is that you can put plastic on all levels without melting. The design doubles what can fit per wash. Cannot speak to the question about drain vs. macerator.

I also love my Bosch - it is super quiet and has a third rack silverware rack. It doesn't have a disposal attached - which is how dishwashers are able to maintain their quietness. I wouldn't worry about the filter vs disposal - quietness is more important to me. Consumer Reports rated dishwashers awhile ago. I remember they basically said that ALL dishwashers clean well - but they are differentiated on reliability, quietness and features like number of cycles. I think you should go with whatever fits your budget and has the features you want.

The drain vs a macerator is no big deal. It makes the dishwasher quieter and more energy efficient, and realistically if you scrape or pre rinse your dishes you may never have to clean the filter or do it only periodically.

The KA units are ok. As good as an American machine can be. Bosch makes an excellent one, and it would be available within your budget for sure. Take a look at a SHX53TL5UC or similar model.

Thank you all for your help!

Also chiming in on how much I love my Bosch - best dishwasher I've had, even superior to the Miele I had that was twice the price.