There are plenty of snooty forums out there and you are right, they don't want to talk about the low end stuff. Buy big, expensive and most likely what their sponsor sells or they will run you off.
Now if you want or need info on the "better" controllers, it's here. Do a search and you will find it.
As far as the budget controllers not being worth anything. My inexpensive MPPT controller is as functional for me at this time as those costing 2,3 or 4 times as much. The ebay PWM controllers are as functional and the affordability factor has allowed many more to get into solar than ever before. They may not fit a mariners needs, but they fit ours.
