He said that was the case if you'd gotten the Repti-temp.
Helixes and Herpstats, while expensive, are proven to be reliable, and I'd certainly wish I'd gotten one if my Repti-temp or any other cheap thermostat burned/killed my snake. The Herpstat's on my list, in fact.
That Hydrofarm's a good deal and recommendable to someone on a budget with only a few snakes, but there's a point where the peace of mind the $100 thermostats can provide are definitely worth the money. If I was breeding, I'd definitely want something proven.