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Lots of good info there. As to the #2 point: for me, not having a big tube stock, it's helpful to be able to test a tube and get an idea if it could be bad before ordering a new one. I keep in mind that it may not be the problem, but if it test bad then the odds are in my favor and it's worth the gamble. I have a B&K 667, one of the last testers made, and it seems to work well and accurate.
Also, I believe if a heater is bad in a tube tester, it's for sure going to be bad in the tv or radio. I guess you could use a multimeter to check the resistance without a tester. But, it's a lot easier to stick it in a socket instead of trying to keep it from rolling while I try to get the probes on the right pins.
What I've been doing if I find a tube is weak, I mark it as such and set it aside. I think even weak tubes are worth keeping for the reasons above. After all they're not making many of them anymore; and who knows, someone may come up with a way to restore them in the future.
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