mac3r3y3u7,
I had a similar decision to make a few years ago - I had a $1000 budget, but I began looking at $1500 bikes with some Ultegra components. I weighed saving $500 vs getting better components.
After a lot of thought, I bought the $1000 bike - a Trek 1500. After riding it for several years, I still think that it is the sweetest bike, it has never given me any trouble and I have never had the need to upgrade anything but the brakes (and I did that only because the price was right). I never once thought that I should have spent the extra money.
If you are a regular recreational rider a $1000 105 equipped bike will be more than adequate.