Torque is significant for me in:
- Screwdriving without pre-drilling, esp stuff like 100mm x 6mm screw
- hole cutting with a tank cutter
As I noted, it may or may not be important to you. I know that the torque of my (old, and now new) Makita is quite manageable and nowhere near as high as my mains powered drill. The stark contrast in spec was enough to push me to brushed version. Brushless may have a much better power weight ratio for the motor, which makes for a lighter, more compact drill, but I decided that wasn't a significant factor for me, I preferred the workhorse. Not having used a brushless for an extended period, I don't know how they compare in reality, but paying more for less (at least, less torque and weight) wasn't the way I went. From the limited use I have had of a brushless, it seemed that under load it drained the battery faster.