I also look for sustainability. I bought an EGO snowblower and mower in the past year, LOVE THEM!

63% of all eye injuries happen away from the jobsite, so don't skimp on safety glasses. Just because they say they are safety, doesn't mean they have been 3rd party tested, or even meet required standards.

Cheaper tools aren't worth bothering with. They either break or are easily damaged.

Definitely guilty of getting the cheap stuff! Of course, using the wrong tool for extended period of time starts resulting in hand cramps, etc. At that point I kick myself

I would say a mix! If the tool/piece of equipment is durable or has good reviews, I will definitely spend a bit more to get a more ergonomically friendly version of the tool. However, sometimes I just get the most durable/well made tool I can find (even if it is not an ergo tool).

For instance, I knew I needed a good shovel/dibble bar to plant a few hundred trees this spring. Instead of going the cheaper/less ergonomic route, I spent around $100 for a very solid tree spade with a 2' longer handle which made the tree planting much less strenuous. I can also use this shovel for home projects later on which is always an added bonus.

My grandfather's advice was to always buy the most expensive tool I could afford. Sometimes that means a cheap hammer that will work today, sometimes that translates into waiting a couple of paychecks to get the best socket set in the local hardware store. I guess ergonomics need to be an option if your DIY activity extends for hours on consecutive days.

I figure that you aren't doing the job or task all day every day, so you probably don't need the most ergonomic-friendly tool on the market.

As long as the ergonomic tools you're purchasing are durable then I think its fine. I've always had the mindset that its better to see tools as an investment for future projects rather than just the cost of the current.