2K will get you a great guitar.... something that excites you. So don't "settle."
My .02-
Yes: Iconic brands, iconic models, traditional woods (cedar, spruce, rosewood). I'm also pro-used instruments (polarizing topic) because I think buying used brings another layer of quality within budget - a 3K instrument that's like-new and you can get for 2K.
No: I'm kind of anti-exotic woods. In general, I don't think there's a huge sonic payoff. Yes, they're more unique, but they don't have the same economy of scale in production and in my experience you're paying significantly more money for something that doesn't sound any better than the sitka spruce that we've been making guitar tops and piano sound boards out of for centuries.
In general, I like big Gibsons and small Martins, but that's an over-simplification. My main acoustic is a Martin J-40 (fairly big-body), and I bought it used - I think for exactly 2K, which was a very good price. There are a few 000-28 that I've played that I like better.