> I suspect the bundles are to recruit new customers, after which they buy a few "bare tool" options because they're marginally cheaper, and then they find themselves needing to buy a battery at $90 instead of having paid an extra $30 for a bundle that includes the tool, a carrying case, a battery and a charger.
What I wound up doing (and what I see most folks do) was more or less following a rule; your first few tools you usually buy bundles anyway. It's not till you get to your 4th or 5th tool that you ask whether to get the battery or not. (e.x. If you need a snowblower, you can probably use the lawnmower batteries. P.S. don't let your batteries get cold, the snowblower hates that.)
No, the expensive batteries are because of the long game. In the long game, you're still screwed. Eventually, those batteries -will- start to suck. Especially if your garage is not climate controlled and gets really hot, and frankly even after regular usage I'm surprised at how warm they are. The ability to output usable voltage for your tools becomes a Joke, you can charge them but the lawnmower stalls on a single wet leaf.
What I wound up doing (and what I see most folks do) was more or less following a rule; your first few tools you usually buy bundles anyway. It's not till you get to your 4th or 5th tool that you ask whether to get the battery or not. (e.x. If you need a snowblower, you can probably use the lawnmower batteries. P.S. don't let your batteries get cold, the snowblower hates that.)
No, the expensive batteries are because of the long game. In the long game, you're still screwed. Eventually, those batteries -will- start to suck. Especially if your garage is not climate controlled and gets really hot, and frankly even after regular usage I'm surprised at how warm they are. The ability to output usable voltage for your tools becomes a Joke, you can charge them but the lawnmower stalls on a single wet leaf.