Last week I just maidened my latest build, I was off 4 clicks for the aileron trim. That was a lot off for one of my planes. I'm not saying you don't need to do everything as accurately as you can, just that you need not buy a lot of items to do it. In my old shop I didn't use a CG machine on my bigger planes, no need, my shop was big enough to set up a pulley and plumb bob so I could hang my planes to get the correct CG. By making my own degree meters I know exactly how many degrees my controls are set, they are all even. My head still swells up when I do a maiden that requires no trim or control set up changes.
I just feel there is no reason to spend money on something when I can make it myself for free and have something even better then is being sold.
I agree with Giant Scale, I'm just not going to run out and buy a tool when I can make it. Making my own tools is also a hobby just like modeling.
Like OSG, put your money into things like glue and epoxy, you don't need to buy plastic tools, make them yourself.