Welcome aboard, Jonathon. I had an HA-114 and found it to be adequate for a few months, but as I progressed, I made the jump to a hand-made. Those spoons are a b*tch.
The hand-made accordions, even by the lesser-known builders, are, by design easier to play. Good players can play an HA-114 well, but those with undeveloped skills will have a harder time with it. Ordinary folks need the benefit of a good instrument to do their best work.
I hear ya! I used to play drums - had bottom of the line for a few years to start with, then went to TAMA Starclassic Maple. The difference in tonal range was night and day. Same goes with playing a mass produced banjo as to playing a prewar Gibson banjo, you just can't beat awesome. HAHA!