I've heard this about the new cheaper Martins before, but I'm not sure I agree. I have one of the cheapest of the Martins made in America if not the cheapest, an all=mahogany OO-15, and have had it for three years. I'm not a gigging musician like you, but it doesn't sit in a case and gets use and there's been absolutely nothing but great play out of the devil, no glitches. Likewise for the all-mahogany D15S I have. In the one case that I heard that about the Martin I truly believe it was because something else was being pushed instead.
Ibanez make some nice acoustics, hope it serves you a long time Joel!