> nowhere is it clearly specified that the free model IS as capable as the paid one either. so if you have uncertainty if IS/IS-NOT as capable, what sort of scientist assumes the answer IS?

Putting the same model name/number on both the free and paid versions is the specification that performance will be the same. If a scientist has to bring to bear his science background to interpret and evaluate product markings, then society has a problem. Any reasonable person expects products with the same labels to perform similarly.

Perhaps this is why Divisions/Bureaus of Weights and Measures are widespread at the state and county levels. I wonder if a person that brings a complaint to one of these agencies or a consumer protection agency to fix this situation wouldn't be doing society a huge service.