Problem is that nowadays, premium brands in T&M think they are Apple, and not HP or Tektronix of old..
They think premium brand means premium design, looks, marketing, "coolness factor" put over product that is decent, but not more than that. We seem to think it means premium quality, measurements, protection and such... But it usually means "touchscreen annotations " (like new R&S scope) and such gimmicks.. That "feature" is free... Protocol triggers and decode (reason why I would buy the darn scope!!) are OPTIONAL...
63USD magnetic holder for Gossen-Metrawatt meters... that works exactly like 4.5€ Brymen holder (it's a freaking piece of plastic with a magnet!!!).
Rebadged Taiwanese scope probes for three time the price....
Array DC loads rebadged by Gossen for 2-3 times the price....
I have no problem buying expensive quality.. I just don't like expensive bullshit...
And Keysight, Gossen, Fluke and all bigo ones.... none of them are sacred cows... I don't necessarily agree with every test Joe does, or even his conclusions sometimes.. But I love his irreverence and lack of idolatry.... Premium manufacturers are not faultless, and us being critical to them, instead running sorts of cults that worship certain brands, is good.
It is good to us (better products for us) , it is good for them ( we keep them honest ) in a long run.... And it is even better for second tier manufacturers and us.. It makes them try harder...And give us better affordable products...
I do not want to defend Joe's "crusade" on the Gossen meter ( I think he does a bit of drama on purpose.. It's how you stir up the people ), but I agree with him on general principle :
If I pay for a handheld as much as for a good 6.5 Digit Benchtop meter, I want it to be better, more robust and superior in every TECHNICAL aspect to a Brymen or whatever else out there.. I want it to have Mu metal shield, 2ppm/C stable reference, etc, etc... It has to be an overkill on specs..
Otherwise why on earth would I buy it... If it's not actually better?
For the price you can buy FLUKE 87V AND Brymen 869S ... Or Brymen 869S AND FLUKE 289 ... And all three of those are very good... And will do the task of measuring at least as good...
My 2c and million words... Sorry for verbosity..