Welcome to the forum Helenamac,
The kits we use are actually as good as money can buy for the type of testing they accomplish. So yes, some may seem rather fancy, but if you want to be in full control of your pool a good drop based kit is needed. There are lots of reasons we do it, but by far the most common reason people start is because of the recurring problems they have. Most if not all, of them have been relying on a Pool Store (often a large chain) and have miserable results, sometimes spending hundreds, and hundreds on products every season.
What we really offer here is knowledge, which most pool stores don't, and don't have any incentive too. Educated pool owners learn that most store products are repackaged common items at vastly increased prices. Things like Baking Soda, or Soda ash, and even Chlorine itself. What they also learn is exactly how, and why they need to add the things they do, and never anything more. The result is a crystal clear, sanitary pool that is extremely easy to keep with zero mystery involved. Although it's the least important facet of what we do, the nice bonus is nearly always a greatly reduced cost as opposed to doing it the pool store way.
So, you have to couple knowledge with some testing results, and the only way to get them is with your own kit. It's really very simple, but don't take my word for it. If you look around much on the forum, you'll find hundreds of recent posts from pool owners testifying here on the forum. In the ten years TFP has been around they add up to the many thousands of individuals who love their pools instead of wondering about how to fix them, or downright hating them before they joined. I'm going to link one of my recent favorites below, but I hope you'll stick around and see what we are all about. There are plenty of us around should you decide to try it and need any help at all. Enjoy your stay on the forum.
14 years of pool stores and failure...