I have owned several, all bought from SC, and I have always been impresed with the build quality. The lume is as good as you would expect (main reason for me buying TBH, as I like to keep tabs on how many minutes it is since I last had to visit the bathroom in the middle of the night|).
I did for several years have an Engineer Master II which was a particular favourite.
I wouldn't try to talk you out of trying one. The value doesn't hold up too well - I have never paid more than about half the new price.
This reminds me - there haven't been many Balls on SC recently.
As a left-field curve-ball (see what I did there?) have a look at the Trainmaster Moonphase. It's like having a bonfire in the bedroom at times of full moon.