If you want to spend less and still go with a name brand, you might consider the Delta T342704 Modern Round Non Shared Shower System with Shower Head, Hand Shower, Shower Arm, and Hose ($299) + Delta R22000 Multichoice Shower Only Universal Rough In with Three Port Diverter ($160).

Also at Home Depot.

Yeah, I think I decided on a moen valve and trim and will probably get a hammerhead slide bar and hand held shower.

I found a much less expensive Moen trim piece. It looks almost identical to the more expensive one so I emailed Moen and asked about the $200 price difference. First they said it was just a different knob design (it's barely different) and when I called bs on that and asked about big box store models vs plumbing supply models, they said they don't do that. But they said the cheaper model was discontinued so maybe that's why. I'm guessing that's part of the price difference but not all of it. It might have more plastic or something but I think what we have now is plastic and it's been fine for decades. The valve is the same and is brass.

" First they said it was just a different knob design (it's barely different) and when I called bs on that and asked about big box store models vs plumbing supply models, they said they don't do that."

Yes, this myth refuses to die. If the brand and model number are the same, the product is the same regardless of the seller.

Manufacturers do produce retailer-specific products. For example, this Home-Depot exclusive Delta Casara Centerset Double Handle Bathroom Faucet ($69) appears rather similar to the Delta Kayra Centerset Bathroom Faucet ($148). Note that both have the same lifetime residential warranty.

But check out this: The Delta Multichoice Shower Only Universal Rough In is $160 while the Brizo Multichoice Universal Shower Rough In is $249. The difference? Brizo is Delta's fancy-pants brand.

Yes, to be clear, I asked Moen about 2 *different* models that look nearly identical (you have to peer closely to see the difference) and have the same specs. Why $200 price difference? Both are sold at HD and Ferguson, so the cheap one isn't a HD exclusive. I'm still a little puzzled about the huge price difference but I'm going to go with the less expensive one.

We got a Lowes specific Bosh dishwasher. It was just like another general model but it had a quick cycle on it I wanted. It's been great.

Those valves you listed look identical. Specs on the delta are maybe more detailed and sound better--like solid brass body.

The plumbing fixture business is a wild one. Small differences in appearance can result in massive differences in price. Manufacturers also create several brands with different price points (e.g., Delta/Brizo). Appliance manufacturers are no different. GE Appliances refrigerators are sold under the GE, Profile, Cafe, and Monogram; some models differ only superficially but have radically different prices.

Plumber here, and the advice in this thread is right on. The valve body is the one part you never want to gamble on. It gets buried behind tile, and if it fails or the cartridge becomes unavailable a few years down the road, the fix means opening up the wall. That is what you are really paying for with a Moen or Delta rough-in valve: a brass body, cartridges you can still buy ten years from now, and warranty support.

Your plan of a Moen valve and trim with the Hammerhead slide bar and handshower is the smart split. The exposed parts like the slide bar, handshower, and hose are easy to swap later if you ever want to change brands, so saving money there makes sense. Just check that the handshower uses standard 1/2 inch connections so it threads onto the Moen setup without needing adapters.

@Plumbing Klamath Falls yeah, it's compatible. Have you ever seen or installed hammerhead shower components? It does seem like a good brand. But like everyone suggested, we'll put Moen inside the wall. Once I found the less expensive Moen trim, the price difference wasn't even all that much. I like the hammerhead slide bar because I think the slider will last and not start slipping. The handheld and hose look good and are easy to swap if need be. I'm actually wondering if the handheld is weirdly heavy since it's all metal. Plastic isn't always bad.

For anyone who stumbles across this in the future, I got the Hammerhead rain head (8") and the 3 spray hand held. I tried them out in our hall bath, so here's my quick review.

I like the rainhead. Never wanted one before, but I really like the gentler spray. I won't have it on an overhead arm, so it won't be coming straight down. I don't want that. The spray has plenty of water pressure in my opinion (I got the 1.7gpm) and feels nice.

I wasn't so sure about the 3 spray, but decided to keep it. I was looking for a showerhead with more pressure for when the rain head isn't enough. On this one, the main spray is nice--more pressure than the rain head but doesn't feel agressive. But there is a little hole in the middle of the spray, which I dont like. The massage spray is just a hard spray from the middle, so very concentrated and hard. A bit too hard, but maybe useful for sore muscles and good for cleaning. Then there's the mist spray. I wasn't sure that would be useful. When I tried it, it was cold, so had to make the water warmer. But then...it was niiiiice. I was surprised.

As for the regular spray having a hole, you can actually turn the dial to in between the regular and the massage spray and then it was just what I wanted--no hole and not too hard or too soft. I even emailed Hammerhead to ask if there was any reason not to put it in between sprays and they said it was fine.

Thanks for coming back with that follow-up — that is genuinely useful for the next person weighing this. Your split is exactly the sensible compromise the plumber in this thread described: put the money and the long warranty into the valve that lives behind the tile, and save on the parts you can swap out without opening a wall.

Two small things I would add from the buyer side: keep the model numbers and receipts for the Hammerhead pieces together with the Moen valve paperwork, and note the exact finish. If a handshower or rain head ever needs replacing, that makes matching it much easier — and it is also helpful for a future owner who will not know what was installed. And with a rain head, I would also keep an eye on the ceiling height and spray reach in that first month, since that is the part people tend to notice only after the tile work is done.

Glad the gentler spray is working out for you.