It really is a simple product for hobbyists to use. I'm not saying the product is simple design wise or build - just for us, the end user, to use. Probably two things I dislike about the hobby chore side of it. 1 - water changes. 2 - manual tests. If I have to do it manually then I'll put it off. If I put it off, I'll continue to put it off. Notes don't help. I'll just throw them away. When I did do manual testing then it was those that are easy to do or ones I felt I could repeatedly test consistently. So that meant the Hanna checkers. So...phosphate and Alk

The only Nitrate kit I liked was the Nyos. So that would get done. Ca and Mag - forget it.
Enter the trident. If all I really care about is Ca, Alk, and Mag, then this is the took for me. I don't care if it is reagent based or not. It tests, it tests the same way, and the same electronic eye is looking at it, then I'm good to go. It made even more sense since I had an Apex. So I'm only out the door the cost of the unit once I found it (many thanks of which go to this forum/board) and later the 6 month reagent cost.
I understand that GHL and MS may add other things. Again, if all I am interested in are those values (ignorance or we as hobbyists just don't know how potassium for example) then it is a solid product once you can find one in stock.