Yes. They are that good. They are faster than any 'cheap' alternative. Whether or not that extra speed is relevant is up to the buyer. I have a Thermapen and the Maverick PT-100. I like the PT-100 myself and I still have both but the Thermapen has moved into my girlfriend's kitchen to be her candy thermometer... I also think the thermapen is probably a 'tad' faster than the PT-100 and maybe 1 degree more accurate. So basically, I think they are equal. Here's my comparison video on those two products: