Ribbon mics are dynamic mics. A cheap ribbon certainly isn't necessarily any better than a cheap dynamic. If I was building a mic collection, though, a ribbon isn't necessarily where I would start out. I'd pick up a good LD condensor or high quality dynamic for vocals, and a pair of good SD condensors for instruments and overheads.
The KSM44 or AT4050 are very competent mid-range LD condensors that are both multipattern and thus broadly useful. Each has its boosters and detractors, but they are pretty equivalent mics in that they are relatively flat and unhyped. If you have two, they can be used for overheads as well. The AT4050 will be a bit cheaper than the KSM44. Buy used if you can. The AKG C414 is a widely used mic that, IMHO, isn't necessarily any better than the KSM44 or AT4050 (unless you get an older one, but those cost a lot more $$). There are multiple versions of the C414 and they do sound different from each other. An alternate consideration, and what I'd consider to be my desert island mic, is the Shure SM7. This dynamic mic keeps getting picked over much more expensive condensors for vocals in my last projects. Mine got used so much I bought a second one. About $316 new from/through Amazon and $200-225 or so used. Does require a decent preamp though. If you want a better condenser than the AT4050 or the KSM44, I'd look at a used Soundelux U195 or a used Gefell UM70 (or its variants).
There are lots of good choices for SD condensors. If I was going to pick up a pair, I'd look closely at Beyer MC930s (@$765 new for a pair at B&H - hard to find used). I'd also consider AT-4051s (@$250 each used) and Josephson C-42s (@$700 a pair used). Short of getting into Schoeps, Neuman KM84is, or high end Gefells for significantly more money, one of these would do you very well for a very long time.
For about $1000-1100, you should be able to pick up a pair of very good SD condensors and a decent LD condensor or a really good dynamic like an SM7 or RE-20.
If you do want a ribbon, I'd suggest looking at the Beyer M160 or one of the AEA mics (R84 or R92). If you can find a used Beyer M500 for a decent price, it can be a wonderful vocal mic on some voices as well. I've picked up one of the cheaper Chinese ribbons (Avantone CR-14), and while it is an interesting mic that does have its uses, it is still not in the same class as my Beyer or AEA mics. The Peluso ribbon has also had good reviews, but I haven't used one yet. Again, ribbons are very nice, but they aren't where I'd start to build a mic cabinet.
Finally, while having a decent preamp is always a good thing, I don't know that I'd recommend splitting your funds further to buy what would still be, at best, a mid-level preamp. You aren't working with an Audio Buddy currently, and until you are realistically looking at dropping at least $400-500 per channel (with a few exceptions, like a VMP-2 or a Sytek), it is questionable how much "improvement" you will really see. It won't always be the case that you can afford to really upgrade all your components at once. I'd go for the best mics you can afford on this pass and then save until you can get a much better preamp. Buying lower quality mics and a so-so preamp now will just mean that you will be looking to up grade both, again, in short order.
