I think that for the money . . . the MIM strats & tele's are a very good products and a very good deal, especially if you get something a cut above the "standard", like the Players Strat or Nashville Power Tele. I've got a Nashville Power Tele (MIM) and it's great. It cost a couple hundred more than the standard, but not as much as an American standard.
I also have a 1994 standard strat (MIM) that was really good sounding and very easy playing, but is even better now since I upgraded the pickups.
However . . . the sweetest sounding and playing guitar I have is a Korean Made tele with set mahogany neck, and coil tapped humbuckers. When the humbuckers are engaged it has a louder but warmer "les Paul" sound, but when you put them in single coil mode . . . it's got the tele twang and bite. It's an outstanding guitar with and can play anything. I had my heart set on a USA made tele, but after playing it and the Korean (about $300 less) . . . the Korean tele beat the American tele hands down in every way.
Not too long ago, I saw a Japanese made tele with a bigsby on it, but I don't think they still make any strats there, as the only Japan made strats you see are several years old.