O.K. for the Ney Sayers among yourselves !
When was the last time some of you probably paid too much for something that you needed/wanted ? I'm well aware that when new it probably cost no more than 10 dollars. Just try to find one in a parts distributor today!!
But if you had been going to hamfests for years and searching out this style of control for as long as I have been, without success, and an opportunity arose when you could purchase a NOS unit after just doing very well for yourself on ebay, I'll bet you'd spend the money too.
Sometimes the pendulum swings the other way- a few years ago I was GIVEN a NOS 15gp22, still under vacuum that is going into my CT-100.
I'm glad I won it and have no regrets as I know I will be installing an original part and consider that an important part of the restoration! And no I don't replaced old capacitors and resistors with NOS ones. But I do like to do things correctly.
I have tried the process of using a physically smaller unit and the kiss of death is the lead and metal spacing consideration, also removing the metal cover. The smaller unit never cuts the mustard, by my experience.
And yes I'm 100% aware of the need to isolate the unit from the chassis in all respects.
Don't be so quick to judge!!
Bob Hodge AKA "Pallophotophone"