I prefer taped seams, and good zippers. The only problems I have had out of tents were the rain fly or other seams leaking. If there is a seam then it has had a needle pushed thru creating a hole. I don't want to buy a new tent and then have to go over all the seams with a sealer. Cheap zippers can ruin a good time camping, and a decent tent. Most of times the zipper gets caught in the seam or flap that it's attached to, so I usually take my time and watch as I zip it. Kids are not so patient.
You do get what you pay for. I don't spend more than a couple of hundred on a tent because I don't do any backpacking or go to extreme weather areas. I might get caught in a storm once in awhile, but the tent and I usually survive.