I have a 93 CU24, I've had a 02 CE24, I currently have a Dustie Waring CE24 on order and I set up and worked closely on a guy who owns about 4-5 DGT's and a couple McCarty's. I'm also currently searching for a rather unique Tremonti Singlecut. The way I can set the truss rod and action on them all is incredible and consistent from model to model. Even with the action insanely low they don't fret out, even some of my Ibanez JEMs and other super shredder's couldn't keep up. For $1500-2000 you can find a CU24 10 Top, you'll see a lot on Reverb for $2500+, but if you go look at the sold listings you can see there are quite a lot that sell in your price range easily. You just gotta keep your eyes peeled and make offers. I paid $1200 for my CE24 used, I paid $2500+/- for my Dustie Waring CE24 new. I've recently sold all my Ibanez's to acquire more PRS guitars.
I play metal exclusively, to me the PRS pickups are perfect for cleans, classic rock, jazz, etc.. But for anything under high gain they really seem to just fall apart, not having any real clarity or tightness to the sound. I've swapped pickups on my 92 CU24 more times than I can count going from Duncan Custom, Distortion, JB, to Dimarzio Super Distortion, Crunchlab to whatever EMGs. Didn't really dig any of that for what I needed. I bought a set of Seymour Duncan Alpha/Omega's a couple years back and they've never left the guitar. They're designed specifically for PRS guitars under high gain. Not a Periphery fanboy, but these really hit the nail on the head.
CE22/24's have a bolt on maple neck, they'll be little bit snappier and brighter
CU22/24's have set mahogany necks, they will have a warmer/darker sound
McCarty's are a hard/stop tail CU22/24 with a thicker body, different wiring.
DGT's are McCarty's, different pickups, more attention to detail imho.
Tremonti's are Singlecuts with trems, normal body thickness
You'll find all sorts of random one offs or artist packages too.
