Alidan,
Unfortunately, as for a comparison, I would be talking out of my butt if I were to try to give you an accurate comparison of the Dell's to one of the high-res Korean knockoffs. I can only go off of reviews found online (Which do show that color accuracy is better in the Dells, NEC, and Viewsonic high-end panels. HP has one too I believe).
I can only offer a comparison between the Dell u2711, Dell u2410, and two cheap (Sub $150) samsung and Asus panels. Color accuracy when calibrated is not even close between the Dell's and the others. The Samsung and Asus may look pleasing enough, as they are very contrasty and vibrant, which is perfect for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts, but terrible for someone who wants color accuracy.
The Dell 2410 (24" factory calibrated) is much better, but there is still a visible difference compared to the u2711. My u2410 had a slightly warmer color cast out of the box, and after calibration the two panels were very similar, but I would say the u2711 is ever so slightly more accurate. Matching prints to a cheap printer would be a nightmare, it's difficult enough to get them to match with a good monitor and calibrator setup.
Sorry, that's the best I can do for my own comparisons. I'm sure you can find better, more scientific and in depth reviews on the internet. Bottom line is, yes, for most people, there are cheaper alternatives out there. This is a niche product that only a handful of people really need.