I agree, the quality of the finish is in the prep. You can spend all you want on the paint, but if the surface is not correct, then its like polishing a turd. That glass look is from a straight body. If you have any waves or imperfections in your body work, there goes the glass look.

My brother paints for a living here in So Cal, and has been painting for better than 20 years. He about stumbled over when I told him of the prices you are being quoted. He said for a "custom" job that you can spend that kind of money. But for a base/clear job, it is way too much. Especially if you are doing the prep work. $2000-$3000 is what at most he recommends for a quality job. Custom could include; candies, multi-tone and specialized paint. Peals will usually not fall into the custom realm.

If you read up on painting, you will find that most writers shun too much paint or filler on a car. The shows we love to watch on TV will often skim whole body panels with filler to smooth things out. Then they apply lots of primer and finally multiple coats of paint. This is fine for a Show Car because of the use that it will NOT see. Also for the short time line that they have to complete the car, its way easier and faster to bondo out a wrinkle than it is to hammer the metal straight. For anything that you will drive - even a little - stay with the basics. Less chance of chipping, cracking and other issues that a trailer queen does not have to deal with. Those show car finishes are not meant to last many years. They are meant for show, not go. So don't waste your money.

-Rich