Yes and no. I agree about the 187. I tried dupes, and ended up buying a 187. Don't regret it a bit. You can always wait for a sale like I did. I am cheaper than cheap, and if I will buy a 187 you know it's worth it lol. A pointed liner brush is not worth spending lots of money on imo. A cheap art brush works just fine. Invest in good blending brushes, they are worth it. I personally hated the MAC 239 for applying color, and love the Loew-Cornell 3/8" Maxine's Mop. I will not ever buy a 239 again.