As R e e f Builders proved, you can build a $1 skimmer out of a water bottle and have it perform well. Wish I could post the link but RC won't let me.
There is absolutely NO reason to spend $1500 on a skimmer. I guarantee that a $1500 skimmer will not outperform a $500 skimmer that is rated for the same size system.
Science has proved this. Skimmers only pull out 30% of the TOC in an aquarium. The bigger, more expensive skimmer may pull the TOC out quicker, but it will NOT pull out more.