I don't think I followed all of that, particularly the closing sentence, but it would be interesting to get some numbers on who here has been using what. You make it sound like there'd be a lot of commercial batch roasters out there, which is kind of depressing.
I'd make these qualifications: home roaster - no small-time sales, barter, whatever, you're roasting mainly for own consumption; and been using it as main roaster for more than a couple years.
If people are buying commercial roasters to roast a pound a week in the back yard, that seems like a pretty sour commentary on what's available really made for the home roaster - Behmor, Hottop, etc. I believe it, though. I haven't been through them all, just one Hearthware Gourmet, but that was enough to get the idea.