[BillA]

a cogent survey of the state of testing, Thanks pH

makes sense to me also to consider different test platforms developing data for different purposes
that such platforms would differ in their price/performance objectives would enable testers to evaluate the 'best bang for the buck'
(what info does their audience want, and which platform/methodology is best suited - adaquate ? - to develop that data)

from a testing perspective; there are different uses for data some of which require good accuracy and precision (product design), but others for which lower resolution data is quite sufficient (product performance for example)

the right tool for the right job