You should be able to get even a low-end derailleur to shift reliably, as long as nothing is broken. Since a front derailleur interacts with the upper run of the chain which is under load, you should shift with the minimum of force on the pedals.

I would recommend setting up the front derailleur again from scratch, since there are several adjustment points to contend with: angle, height, low limit screw, high limit screw and cable tension.