We are all bargain shoppers, and we spend a lot of time searching the internet for the right product at the right price. But, just about everyone on this board is not a newbie just starting out. Who needs a lot of tools quickly, isn't completely sure it is the right career, and so on. When I was in a shop, I avoided the trucks like the plague. Not because the tools weren't good, nor that they didn't have what I wanted. But because I was flat ass broke. So, I spent my nights in trade school, and my weekends scrounging tools. But, I grew up doing that with my dad, and I enjoyed it. Not everyone does, and many have other things they need to do, like spending time with their kids, or their wives, whatever. It is a trade-off.
The mechanics at that shop had a mix. One guy had a Snappy box, the rebuild guy a Cornwell. The service manager had a nice old Snap-on stack and the tech manager had a MATCO setup. The rest had either Craftsman or Harbor freight. Everyone was happy with their choice as far as I could tell.