BD-R was never quite as bad as DVD-R, being harsh good or bad. I didn't buy any in 2018 at all, not needed, but my preference has always been for Verbatim/Mitsubishi. But I've really not had any major issues with Ritek or even Philips/CMC. Ritek was never bad media, just marginal. But in past years they turned that around some. Still not MCC/MKM, but not jnuk like Umedisc.
If for myself, always Verbatim.
I don't consider $41 per 50 expensive:
https://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-Data...language=en_US
I still remember buying decent VHS tapes for $2-3 each, SL DVD-R for $1-3 each.
If for others, and they want to pinch pennies, Ritek.
I've never had a major problem with HTL vs. LTH either.
Pledisc is Optodisc, and they were a pretty operation in the DVD-R era ... if that's the same company (and I believe it is). It's sometimes hard to tell if the name/employees/etc behind a company has remained the same, or has turned into another operation hiding behind the old name.