Two years ago this subject came up at a local guild. I called the headquarters of several fabric manufacturers.
Every manufacturer said thread count, dye and surface finishing determine the "hand" of the fabric, which is the way it feels to your hand.
Every manufacturer denied making different grades of fabric for different wholesalers and retailers. Each representative said their companies did not have the resources to do that and they also said they could not risk their company's reputation by producing different grades of fabric for different stores.
Each also said that some of their fabrics had a better "hand" than others, primarily because of the thread count and surface finishing. But those fabrics are the same whether you pay $10 a yard or $3 a yard--it's exactly the same fabric and what you pay depends on where you buy it.
I have no way of knowing whether every company representative to whom I spoke misrepresented the truth, but since each of them separately and individually told me essentially the same thing, I am inclined to believe what they said.
I will tell you that buying poor quality fabric when you are starting to quilt, make garments, etc., is not a bargain. Such fabric is much harder to deal with because it is easily distorted and will not wear well. Buy the best you can find at a price you can pay and your sewing will be much easier and you will like the results much better.