I find that each cat has their own preference. My cat prefers the rubber nubby brushes and just regular human combs. Some of the cats at the shelter like the bristle brushes, others like the ball-tipped metal brushes, and some don't like to be brushed at all!
My cat loves the Zoom Groom and it gets a lot of hair out as well. It's probably not as good at that as the furminator but a lot of cats that don't like normal brushes love the Zoom Groom.
Chase loves to be brushed, period.. comb, flea comb, bristle brush, furminator.. anything, he doesn't care!
My sister's cat was a real pain to brush until I got the furminator.. sometimes tolerating a comb, sometimes not.. the furminator, though, she likes most of the time.
Years ago my husband gave me a rather expensive natural boar bristle brush (Mason Pearson) for Christmas. I never really liked it, there was something about it that never really worked well for my hair. So I never used it.
About a year ago I saw it in the drawer - pulled it out and started using it on Lilly (DSH). Wow...her coat was SO soft afterwards. Now she LOVES her daily grooming with this brush. I think the natural bristles really help to distribute the oils evenly on her fur. I don't think I'd ever spend the money to buy this brand for a cat, but there are many other natural bristle brushes that are more economical. I don't think it would work as well on a long haired cat - but it definitely does for her.