I owned several Mass. built bikes and currently own one Sarratoga built Yo Eddy.
In my experience the finishing and detailing are about the same and the paint is just as nice, plus the frames benefit from years of evolution, lighter tubesets and nicer droputs based on the ones developed for the 10th Anniversary.
My first Yo Eddy had welding that had an almost fillet brazed quality, the Sarratoga frame is not quite as nice but still excellent by most standards and about on a par with my Sommerville built Wicked Lite, after all these bikes were built by Serrota who have a reputation for building some of the most highly regarded U.S road bikes.
Having said all that I still like the Sommerville frames best, but the appeal is as you say emotional rather than objective..
Will