I think the reason you didn't get a straight answer on the "invisalign vs. braces" is that they do such their jobs so similarly that the biggest factor is really what you want. Do you want a slower and more expensive treatment with less pain, greater dental hygiene convenience, and that less visible to people who see your teeth? Can you put up with a little pain and inconvenience, don't mind the aesthetics, and want to save money?
In some some cases (to the best of my knowledge -- I haven't had to know anything about braces in 15 years), only braces are available until the teeth are in a state where invisalign can do the rest. Clearly, you weren't one of those patients, so the rest is up to you.
The dentists don't know your financial or social situation, they don't know what kind of inconvenience you can and can't put up with. What were you really expecting them to say here?
What you say makes sense, but the people involved didn't even attempt to make me aware of the differences in the concise way you just did. And when I asked about the difference in final result, pain, and time, there was no straight answer. It was just, "This is what I do. I can't tell you about the other thing."
In some some cases (to the best of my knowledge -- I haven't had to know anything about braces in 15 years), only braces are available until the teeth are in a state where invisalign can do the rest. Clearly, you weren't one of those patients, so the rest is up to you.
The dentists don't know your financial or social situation, they don't know what kind of inconvenience you can and can't put up with. What were you really expecting them to say here?