I would like to agree. My Yankee sensibility tells me I don't have to spend hundreds of dollars when the goal is simply to stand up at my desk. For the few times I need to sit I can use a stool as you suggest.
That said, I've been sitting at desks for decades. I'm a little reluctant to buy or build a high desk with the assumption that I will be able to stand at it all day and be productive. The adjustable desks give you a "way out" even if it's just for a few hours a day while you get used to it. I think that's why they are popular. Few people want to commit to a change like that and all the ways to "Try" a standing desk are nearly as much effort as the ~$500 is worth. especially if you are counting it as business or office expenses as I would.
In my case it would be $85 for the stool, plus a few hours labor and materials to build a little stand on top of my existing desk which includes a trip to the lumber yard. Then if I like it I go out and buy a permanent standing desk for about $150 and I'm rapidly approaching the same cost as if I had just gone and bought the adjustable desk in the first place.
It's surprisingly cheap/easy to put the whole thing together with things from Amazon and IKEA. For example:
4x Olov 36" legs [1] = $60
1x Linnmon 47" x 24" table top [2] = $20
whatever small shelf will fit your monitor(s) = $20
1x Adjustable Stool [3] = $85
Total = $185
Just be aware of the heights. If you're over 6' tall, you'll probably need to put the desk on a $10 set of bed risers (or spring for the $30 Gerton legs that adjust over 40") and you may need the 6430HB stool instead of the 6424HB. The price on those should be within $5 though.
The Gerton Leg, adjustable is not a good solution for a free-standing desk. The recommended installation is two of them at max height with the tabletop affixed to something solid, like a wall.
I learned this after I built the free-standing desk I am currently using. There is noticeable wobble while typing.
That said, I've been sitting at desks for decades. I'm a little reluctant to buy or build a high desk with the assumption that I will be able to stand at it all day and be productive. The adjustable desks give you a "way out" even if it's just for a few hours a day while you get used to it. I think that's why they are popular. Few people want to commit to a change like that and all the ways to "Try" a standing desk are nearly as much effort as the ~$500 is worth. especially if you are counting it as business or office expenses as I would.
In my case it would be $85 for the stool, plus a few hours labor and materials to build a little stand on top of my existing desk which includes a trip to the lumber yard. Then if I like it I go out and buy a permanent standing desk for about $150 and I'm rapidly approaching the same cost as if I had just gone and bought the adjustable desk in the first place.