Go to some of your local hamfests and swapmeets. They show up regularly in the flea market area. You're right. They are indespensible in a hams' "arsenal". Think of it this way: you're not just buying a meter to check your "SWR'ZZZZZZZZZ" with, but several meters in one! The MFJ Analyzer is, of course, 5 meters in ONE! It's an SWR meter, an impedance meter, a frequency counter, a signal generator, AND a grid dip meter with which to measure certain circuits and resonances with! It does SO MUCH---almost like a "radio shop" in a box! Spring for it! You won't regret it!