I guess a part of me likes the new flashing modern thing, and the other hears the rational around a quality used one.
I am currently binge watching Daves many scope vids, which isnt helping me nail one down either!
We are used to think "Chinese = crap el cheapo" but I'm afraid that's no longer the case.
Old equipment can be very high quality, but what do you know about its usage history? How many components about to fail will it contain?
Modern equipment will for sure avoid the typical uncertainty of "is it the aging instrument or my circuit?". And, come on, digital oscilloscopes are g r e a t. Claiming that analog oscilloscopes are better is like defending magnetic tape or vinyl against proper digital recording.
DSOs are
different. Which means that you must
learn to use them and exploit their strengths. The only clear disadvantage is XY mode.
I own both the DS1000Z and the SDS1202X-E and I can vouch for them. I wouldn't recommend you to get lessed models from either Rigol or Siglent because these two series are a tipping point. So, how would you choose one of them, given that their prices are very similar?
Easy: Do you want four channels? -> Rigol
Two channels, more bandwidth, better measurements, better noise floor(*), more modern? -> The Siglent
(*)If you are mostly working with digital circuits and you want to check signal timings and that kind of stuff, the four channel model will probably be better.
Both are in my opinion excellent value for money. It just depends on your needs.
As for support, they seem to be committed to providing firmware updates for some time. Both Siglent and Rigol issued firmware updates within the last six months. And the good thing is, they are competing. Even traditional manufacturers such as R&S, Keysight, etc, are releasing more affordable series.