iron core xformers vs switch mode (hot air stations, soldering, etc)

[linux-works]

wondering why vendors are still building (shipping modern products) using big heavy transformers instead of switch mode psu.

I'm shopping for a hot air station and most of them are overly heavy for no reason other than the big trafo (custom one, too) inside.  but not all stations do that.  same for soldering; many are now using switchers for their psu but there are hold-out vendors and models that dont.

is there any advantage to the iron core style?  negatives that I see are:

 - cost (I have to believe its more expensive to get custom wound heavy trafos)
 - smell (reviews talk about the laquer smell that takes a lot time to wear off to where the smell is not a problem)
 - vibration/whine (eventually they all make noise unless they are very well made)
 - weight/shipping (can cost $50 and more to ship products vs the same one in switch mode)
 - efficiency (way less efficient than a switcher)

and you dont even have to 'design' a switcher; you can just use standard designs.  its hard to believe each new box needs a new psu designed for it.

so, what's the deal?  is it just ignorance? 

when I see a pure DIY from someone and it has a linear psu, I excuse them.  but when a vendor who knows better does it, I really wonder.

[ftg]

I can't hear the transformer in my Aoyoe 852 hot air station from under the air pump and other general rattling.
The transformers mass is a feature, not a bug (imo), as it helps damp the mechanical vibrations.

[BrokenYugo]

IIRC most of the soldering stations with a transformer feed the low voltage AC directly to the heater and switch using a triac so it's sort of design related.

The other thing that comes to mind is a basic split bobbin mains power transformer will probably have less leakage than a cheapo SMPS.

I'll hazard a guess hot air sells less than irons, so that may just be reusing common stuff they already have.

In the case of cheap imported stuff I trust a power transformer to be built right with proper insulation a lot more than a SMPS.