Why is this digital thermostat so cheap?

[LizardPants]

that was going to be my next question, would;t the hot glue damage the probe being as its so hot?

Anya,

here some pictures after todays visit to michaels.....

I doubt that hot melt gets up to 200 F, and if the probe is what I think it is, it can handle much higher temps than 200 F. The insulation on the wire, or plastic around the probe would fail first.

I'm not sure what the plastic is, but the point that ABS flows (ABS is a gelled fluid like glass) is around 220 C/428 F. Hot melt glue doesn't get anywhere near that hot.