Pete J posted a link to Peter White's page on fixed gear cranks.

I recommend it as a good read:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fixed.asp

One pays extra for more precision and roundness of the crank and the chainring, and this means more speed for less effort.

One also pays more for more strength and less weight.

Put them all together:rounder, lighter, stronger...cost more.

After reading Peter White's thoughts on the subject, and considering the responses I got to my 1/8 vs 3/32 chain thread, the Sugino 75 cranks with a Sugino Zen Messenger ring sound like the maximum value for the money.

I think one can pay more and not get much more, or one can pay less and definitely get less.

Sugino 75 cranks list from $190 to $219 at John Dace's Businesscycles, and Zen Messenger rings from John cost $73.

Call it $375 for a crankset.

Expensive?

Yes.

The best?

Maybe not.

The best for the money?

Arguably so.

For years I rode with a Sugino RD crank and cheap 130 BCD road chain rings, all of which probably cost less than $100.

Do I feel $275 difference between the RD crankset and the 75 crankset?

No.

Still, if I can afford it, I would prefer the 75 crankset; not for the bragging rights, but for the roundness.