Finding those who can tell the difference between a board soldered with "cheap chinese junk" (Hakko 936 clone), and a board soldered with a unit "MADE BY THE GREAT HAKKO GOD!", might be more difficult then you are imagining!
I can make high quality job with crap soldering iron. I can do a bit better with good soldering station but it's much easier to do. Also when you need to solder with a lead free solder some multilayer boards with high thermal mass, you'll notice that it can become very difficult unless you have a very good solder station.
BTW, I don't think that HAKKO is GOD (someone really needs rehab and drinking less vodka), especially 888(D), and older 936 model, I actually think it's not better than average at best.
Then, all you are noticing is that living in million dollar house is more comfortable than living in a hundred-thousand dollar house? That shooting a varmint with an elephant gun, as opposed to a 22 Cal. is more effective?
My posts have centered on the Hakko 936. This threads title focuses on the heating element of the Hakko 936. Yet, everyone wants to speak on every other unit. Why not just post about those units in more appropriate threads?
If I wanted to post on any other type of station, type of handles, types of heaters, I would go to the appropriate threads and make my posts there. Why are you here discussing other units, THAN THE 936? Am I supposed to believe this is anything but "niggling?"
Apparently you can tell that my posts are accurate, focus on truth and facts, and what is real, and can be demonstrated ... so why go to a 936 thread to discuss 888Ds or other off topic soldering stations ... other than just one simple remark to point them out, in a discussion FOCUSED ON 936s.
And now, the terminally insane seem to make claims that the power supplied to these 936 heaters, somehow, takes on "magical properties", if it is 50W supplied by a unit which makes Hakko rich, as opposed to 50W supplied by a unit which DOES NOT make Hakko rich. Sorry, I call BS on that one, I will leave it to others, to see if they agree, or disagree.
You wish us to be so stupid we don't notice what is really going on, or the real nigglers?
... and yes, in the time honored tradition of "attack the messenger, NOT THE MESSAGE", you attack me, or a Vodka bottle ... and I should think everyone watches that, too -- EXCEPT you!
And, in the end, it all breaks down to just this, in six months, or so, when I want/need to replace my 936 heating element with a new one, it will cost me ~$1.00 USD. ... or that keeping my old case, transformer, etc., I can have, basically, a BRAND NEW 936 by just replacing a >$8.00 USD controller.
EDIT:
Now, in giving this some hard, serious, thought, and attempting to see exactly what you are saying, I am left with the opinion that you are going to all this effort to point out to me that shaving with a 0.25 cent disposable, plastic, razor IS NOT THE SAME, as shaving with a $100,000 solid gold razor, with a diamond studded handle!
... and you are quite correct, and leave me to now ponder on that difference -- and just how much of that difference is imagined? ... and especially if I ever found out that both razors used the same blade! ... but, 50 Watts is 50 Watts, at least in all of this known universe!