I'll echo further responses urging people to save and minimize to avoid low-end dreck, but...
Uniqlo will usually have something on sale, if one is thing and likes a slim fit. Dinky collars at the moment, but good fabric IME.
https://www.uniqlo.com/us/men/casual-shirts.html
https://www.uniqlo.com/us/men/dress-shirts.html

 

I am glad to see you include the JC Penny Stafford line. Some ten or fifteen years ago, when I was still wearing dress shirts and ties regularly, the Stafford oxford 60/40 blend was a favorite. It was, as you say, cut reasonably for someone with an athletic shape, and the blend reduced wrinkling and made it quite easy to launder and iron.

 

If those shirts fit you, fantastic. Sadly, none of those brands come in sizes that match my frame. But I think the $30-$40 custom range is well worth it.

 

I recently tried and returned one of the JC Penny 60/40 blend ocbd shirts in a uni stripe. Very nice shirt on sale for $15-16 but I found the neck chaffed me when I tried it with a tie. Too bad but an otherwise nice shirt for casual wear. Interestingly, I have a few Land's End 60/40 ocbd shirts that are terrific (in spite of their rather short 3" collar points). They were being closed out at about $15 each in white and blue. I'm wearing one today with a Land's End navy blue sweater vest. Very comfortable look for me.

 

I've always been impressed with the fabric used in Jos A Bank Traveler shirts, but the cut was always gigantic. I got the tailored style and could still practically wrap it around my body twice and I am actually about 25 lbs overweight.

 

From a pure cost perspective Kirkland really can't be beat. For <$20 the shirts hold up quite well and I've gotten as much as 8-9 months of wear in regular rotation out of them. After that the fabric starts to thin and turn flimsy.

J Crew is certainly nice on discount but the problem is always finding something that fits well as well as a style that is somewhat conservative.

I haven't tried Uniqlo shirts but I have a few of their sweaters and quite like them. If the shirts are anything like that it may be worth taking a look at.

Going back to my regular refrain, I have yet to find anything that beats Kamakura for pure value in a dress shirt.

 

I've had success purchasing Scott Barber shirts on Sierra Trading Post. They have a very conservative style and in my opinion are well made shirts, using nice materials. If you go on the Scott Barber site, or purchase in a local mens shop, the shirts are $155 (over-priced). If you do your homework, with the excellent prices on Sierra Trading posts, added discounts and shipping offers, you can get great deals. I recently purchased two shirts on one of their special deals and paid 25 per shirt. These aren't seconds, but often shirts from the previous season. They are a unique fit. The large is too big, and the medium "just" fits since it's an athletic cut. And my experience with STP customer service has been outstanding. Take a look on the STP site for Scott Barber. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

For the tall folks on a budget...

Being pretty tall, 6'5" and <215lbs, finding shirts that fit well is a crapshoot, especially alpha sized that don't offer a 'tall' option. That said, Lands End and J Crew (including J Crew Factory) in Large Tall fit as well as I could ask for.

J Crew large tall has a 33.5" length down the center back. The XL not tall has a 32" length and large cuff circumference for some reason.

Fortunately LE also offers measured sizes in their dress shirts, and they always seem to have sales going on. The body length increases once you go to 36" sleeves. A 16.5 x 36 has a 35" length.

As a side note, something Brooks Bros. misses that these two both do is include a button further down the placket toward the hem so if your shirt starts to pull up out of you pants it doesn't V open and show you undershirt, or worse. Not a big deal for some, but I'm crawling around under desks and behind server racks all day and can wind up a bit disheveled

If you have a banana republic outlet nearby, they have a dizzying array of patterns and prints usually, and being an outlet the prices are generally OK, but even better when on sale. BR is, or was at one point at least the Gaps dressier sibling, so time it right and shop well. I hit their West Palm Beach location back in October and they were transitioning seasons so much of the inventory was 50-70% off. I paid well under $20 for each of the shirts I bought. Body length is ok even in non tall offerings, though I did have to bump up to XL to get long enough sleeves. 33" length down center back. Since they apparently design their clothes for young men with eating disorders even bumping up to XL didn't yield a blousy appearance.

Kirkland is surprisingly good and long lasting for the price. Body length is good for somebody my height. Measured sizes - a 16.5 x 36 has a 34" length.

Eddie Bauer from their outlet stores are OK, but they only seem t have relaxed fit anymore which are similar to BB Madison. Can be had for under $20 depending on the season. Large-ish cuff circumference.