I'm not going to judge your experience, but as a relative newbie I'll
make the following comments:

-- Buying cheap, inferior stuff is indeed a big mistake. I've learned
that first-hand. That's why I've been replacing the crap I bought in
the price range you suggest with high-midrange tools, like a Bosch
router and a Milwaukee circ saw. The $300 CAD Skil table saw is the
next to go. As others have said, a skilled woodworker can use cheap
tools because they have the experience to get around the severe
limitations of the tools. That's not me. I wouldn't recommend any of
the tools on your list to a newbie because I've worked with that
quality of tool *as a newbie* and the experience is frustrating. (Okay,
the $6.49 glue gun is probably a decent buy)

-- Coming into this community with an abrasive post (your third
paragraph) is guaranteed to raise the hackle of people who are indeed
skilled craftsmen who willing offer their knowledge and experience to
folks like me. I know what I'm talking about here... I think my first
or second post was an embarassing flame of Keith Bohn for which I was
taken to task in a private email by another senior member. I like to
think I learned that lesson.

-- This is an incredible community of people. Like any community, we
have a wide range of personalities. Stick around a while, take the
occasional chill pill, and share some of your 40 years experience with
us.

djb

--
There are no socks in my email address.

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"