First off the system is only communicating if you purchase the Comfort Link II controller. You can NOT match it with any thermostat to gain this functionality and in the equipment package shown above this system is NOT fully communicating, only the furnace.

With that said any communicating would be greatly hindered, because there is no communicating for a XR14 condenser. The XR14 is single speed bottom rung condenser.

To go with a communicating system with Trane you would have to go to the XV18 condenser, which is the full variable speed condenser.

Trane does not have a two speed communicating AC condenser to match with the communicating furnace. (They lack the electronics in the panel is why.)

In a 14 -16 Seer (Single speed) Brand doesn't matter one bit if installation and design of the system is done properly all brands are equally comparable outside of micro channel configuration.

So, is paying a little more for the next step up system worth it?

Depends what your goals are? How long do you plan to stay in this home? How important is (better) comfort to you? How important is it to reduce your utility bills.

If it were me, I would avoid Trane. Let's get this straight though.... there is nothing wrong with Trane equipment. But it's nothing special either and you pay a premium for this equipment and again when it breaks. It will break... everything on this planet breaks sooner or later.

If you're looking at communicating HVAC systems I would look at Amana. Communicating systems for this brand start at 16 SEER 2 speed. Realize you want the 2 speed machine at a minimum. (They make a 16 SEER single speed as well, but this isn't communicating.)

They also make an 18 SEER 2 speed, but if you want to go this far you may as well go to the 20 SEER full variable speed system including the compressor. The Amana warranty beats every system out there today.