a word about bargains and compromises

    People often debate among themselves whether to buy quality or to compromise on something that is "just as good".  If your bargain was the same price as the quality product would you still be inclined to buy it.  The answer is enviably "NO".  Why?  The answer is usually "because of the quality".  Is quality important and if so how much?  This is the real question to address.  If it does not do what it was intended to do then it is worthless.  "Well if it is quality enough to do the job then who cares".  Butt for how long?  I am talking about battlefield conditions when failure of a product can mean the difference between life and death.  "But it comes with a "lifetime guarantee"".  Even the best "lifetime replacement guarantee" would be rendered meaningless under these circumstances.  I don't care if it says "the tactical elite government model".  Only quality matters (with respect to the tactical use; of coarse).  We live in a world of financial constraints.  Believe it or not I understand this.  Compromises have their place, just not here.  I see far to many people out there with fancy cars, home entertainment systems, nice clothes, etc...  I also see people that would not invest in one solitary peace of quality equipment but are willing to buy 30 mediocre products.  This is fine, to each their own but don't for a minute think or refer to yourself as tactical.  Pick any, of many clichés to remember this, buy quality and cry once, only the rich and afford to buy twice, expensive is when it is not worth they money, etc...  Now that I am done with my little rant lets get back to equipment failure.  You may not have a problem with your bargain but the battlefield is no place to find out.  But if you buy quality and do it consistently you will dramatically reduce the likelihood of equipment failure.  To those out there that don't heed my advise.  Forever know that every time you take that bargain out and look through it's sights, long after the joy of saving money is over, trying to figure out if that miss was you or your equipment, that what you have is a compromise.