I've burned through four balloon light lamps in the last two years—one cheap, one mid, one mistake, and one that's still going. The marketing all says the same thing: "soft diffused light" and "stylish statement piece." Half of that is true. The other half depends on how much you pay and what you actually expect from it.
I'm not here to tell you that $30 is a waste and $150 is the only way. I'm going to tell you what I measured, what I felt, and what I'd buy again if I had to.