But then how else can I overcomplicate things? You’re right, thanks, and also thanks for the heads up on Proxmox. I picked up an old Checkpoint 4800 for less than the 400g solid copper heatsink is worth which I will run Proxmox on, which will give me a chance to get to know it!
Which makes them superior, which is why they are used. Cost can’t be ignored any more than the torque or speed, speccing parts that are considerably more expensive that achieve equivalent results is bad engineering unless you have a very specific application that requires it.
If it was ‘objectively inferior’ we wouldn’t use them. You build to your requirements, not by playing top trumps with competing technologies while ignoring the cost.