Fair enough. I get the argument to spend the money on an instrument that will get regular use. (I have a very respectable baby grand, which my parents bought for the family, but somehow it was always understood would be mine because I was the most likely to use it--I don't play it quite that routinely, but that's just because I can't get any keyboard time on it in between constant use by the children!)
For your price range, you possibly could manage a passable spinet. I've historically ballparked $1000 and up for a decent used upright.
Clearly genetics! I would definitely not underestimate your dad's skills.
