Evolution. That is what it is. A few years ago there was only Tyzack as a "proper" trowel, all else was crap.......then we got a bit richer and went off travelling further for our holibobs, and naturally had a little look at the tools used. Then we have a bit of supply and demand, and then tool suppliers saw opportunity, and then .......choices!
Now, because we plasterers are top of the evolutionary building tree, we soon realised that you don't have to be absolutely knackered in order to be a good plasterer.........so we chucked out the old bike cogs and soon got a drill involved.....(up pops another entrepreneur...).... and then we got bigger buckets...and blah, blah.......
Now, we don't have long drawn out debates over the benefits of buckets, not really......no-one saying "I've tried them all but keep going back to the old faithful 3 gallon builders bucket".........."I've chucked out the Eibenstock and got out the bike cog, coz it mixes better".......once upon a time plumb bobs were all we had.......then we found stabila......
Good plastering is not all about the tool.........it's all about the "tool" holding the tool......
Stilts! There's another evolutionary invention.........beats holding a dwarf with a trowel over your head all day long........who'd go back to that?