I am looking to get a steel frame for single speed/fixed gear build, possibly into a multi-gear longer distance touring bike (if it has horizontal dropouts). Most new bikes today are TIG welded; many lugged frames costs more than their welded counter-parts. Many people go for the lugs for the looks, others say that they are built stronger, and are more easily repaired. I think lugs are nice looking, but I don't care too much about the looks though.

Can I justify myself in paying more for a lugged steel frame over a welded one? How many of you have actually gotten a frame repaired (replacing a tube or something related to repairing a lugged frame), where it is not ideal on a TIG welded frame?

I have read that repairing a lugged steel frame is only practical on an expensive high end frame, whereas you would more than likely just replace the entire frame of a low end bike. Roughly, how much does it cost to repair a frame, and how expensive of a frame would it take for you to actually have it repaired for?