If you have a Harbor Freight near you, you can buy one for as low as $12.95 when they are on sale. You can always get a PE1 for $25. They are nice to have but you are right, they aren't necessary. Lots of people feel that it is necessary to have a proportional thermostat when you can actually get by with a rheostat if you have to. You just get what you can to get by with and hopefully over time you accumulate better stuff. The nicer stuff is nicer to have but not mandatory by any means. It is nicer to have a brand new car but a 10 year old car will get you around all the same.![]()