Hi everybody. I am the one who wrote that thread at RCTW and also the one who published the Benedini tutorials and reviews at Rad Industries, and I think I'd should say something here.
Like many of us, I started using the pirate aliexpress version. I remember getting them for something like 15 euros free shipping, which considering the original price, was an absolute bargain. Only shipping germany-austria is something like that, so go and figure. I always thought his prices were outrageous for what we were really getting. I wrote my web entry and my tutorials and I got HEAPS of contacts requesting support for benedini products. Some time later even Mr Benedini himself contacted me through my website and we started talking a bit.
After deep experimenting with his hardware and software, I found there was a LOT of job behind it, and it is very, very clever (though complicated) and usefull. Being able to trigger so many functions with only one channel is something definitely you don't see anywhere.
I do know most people underrate those boards and I have loads of proofs of it: Most don't know they are also able to control many things like heaps of fully programmable independent lights, smoke, and more. Many don't even know they can change the sounds and add their own. And many of those who know it, are just not able to do it with their crappy tamiya/futaba and Carson radios, but man, really, Benedini boards are really awesome. I have not seen anybody able to implement such an ammount of functions in a nail size board.
The time designing it, the time creating the sound sets (which is a pain to do!) and the desperating long times that I am sure it took him to answer emails to people who don't know which side is the positive in an AA battery makes me justify his prices a lot more. You all know I am a cheapskate and God knows I believe he would sell much more if his prices were more reasonable, but I say it is worth to support the creator a bit, so if you can afford it, I do recommend getting the boards from Benedini himself.
Sadly the TBS micro is not produced anymore by him, but you still can get the mini and the mini V2 which has a sound lenght of 28 minutes. Totally worth it.
Couple of examples of what I did with the micros:
And many more, in many toys more.