I was a camera salesman for about 8 years. i have heard the same question for 8 years in regards to the "BEST" camera. "I want to buy the best camera available..." blah blah blah...You get it.
My answer has been the same for ALL 8 years: The best one is the one that you are the most comfortable with! As with cameras, most people cannot tell the difference between the BEST and the 5th best. BUT, if it is just a little too big to sneak in, or the settings are a little too complicated to get just right, or it is too expensive to stuff into your unders and sneak through the gate, then you won't use it. End of story! If you aren't comfortable with it then it will end up at home on your dresser instead of with you at the show. Buy the one that works the best for you.
I have the R-09. I love it. Sounds great, it small, is easy to use. Levels are easy to see, check, and adjust. Problem is that, even though I babied it, it is in the shop for warranty repair after only 63 days. It has been there for over 3 weeks.
Now I have a iRiver h120 with a stereo "T" mic that i bought off eBay. Total price is around $270. ($150 for the h120 / $120 for the mic) Easy to use once the rockox is in place. Quality is as good or better than the R-09. Bullet proof. 20 gigs of mem. The only downside for me is that the screen is too small for me to read. (I am old and blind) The AGC in the rockbox mod compensates for the tiny screen and level meter.
My advise to you, young Grass hopper? Buy the one that you are the most comfortable with. The one that is easy to use. The one that is cheap enough to replace if it get confiscated by a mongoloid bouncer with a bad attitude. The one that you aren't affraid to take outside to record the sound of falling rain... Jeezus, now I sound like a fu*king poet!
Just buy one and go out and use it. I seriously doubt that you will be able to hear any difference. With your price restrictions, they all sound the same.