No not really, there are two types of proportional T-stats pulse and dimming. Dimming changes the power % they are the most accurate. Pulse rapidly turns on and off very quickly never allowing full heat and never allowing it to cool. All a UTH is a carbon ink on a sheet that allows electricity to pass with resistance, (electrical friction) that as a by product produces heat. Neither type is going to be 'harder' on an element than any other type. Some elements will heat higher than the specs allow for continuous use they MUST be controlled in every installation and application. They are made to be used with a T-stat.
The helix and VE series of stats are basic tech ones they offer none of the advances over the past 5-8 years the competitors have. Helix has a long track record of dependability and stability. VE offers nothing extra at all but the sales staff has such a stellar rep they are selling on that alone.
Herpstats leads the way with safety they have innovated new and better safety systems, under temp shut down as well as over mechanical relay, and a wide array of features.
Ecozone have lead the way with net integration. Settings and monitoring as well as alerts are all done via internet. They have a huge array of options and variables that could only be accessed with a computer interface far far too many to have push button menus.
The herpkeeper is not far behind the interface is clunky and the net reporting an optional expansion. They have a number of expansion options so a base model can be adapted later.
I have no loyalty really I only care about my animals. I use herpstats for the safety they have. I seriously looked at ecozones but opted for safety systems over reporting. IMO VE came in with the next obvious step laid out before them and ignored it completely, they choose to take a massive step backwards the big selling feature they blazon is it stacks, like the herpstats, the ecozone, and herpkeeper. An improvement over the almost 20 year old helix.
The obvious step? a unit with the features of the herpstat and the net interface of the ecozone.
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