Our eyes are better at judging distance movement as opposed to watching numbers count down.
Denis
Such as masking tape on joint between slide and saddle or table, slit with a razor, marks inked to dial setting? Distances were so easy, assuming one can tic off rotations of axis handle, ie .200-.400-.800......9.200-9.400-9.536. Admittedly, cornucopia of DRO's makes purchase difficult. I object to ads failing to recognize the lathe and mill have individual requirements and capabilities. Buttons and bubble programs for each in one unit might be expedient in a manufacturing/ marketing perspective, but intuitive factor goes down the drain. Soft keys present an impasse too, prefer individual functions.
A mill wants X & Y, potentially Z on knee. Quill readouts in DRO box are iffy as beneficial, individual units much more sensible. Bolt circles only a convenience but handy for odd-numbered patterns. Angles, same thing. While compensation, imperial to metric swap, non volatile readings, decent resolution are higher on list, repeatability is paramount.
Few of those help a lathe where repeatability, diameter or radius settings, tool offsets and tool number are highest and still needing compensation, conversion, preservation of digits, and resolution functions.
I'd rather spend on a unit recognizing discreet functions than trying to interpret an advertisement presenting otherwise.
One thing never mentioned is the excess cable length. Real irritating when trying to hang a shaft in Vee block over back edge of a mill.
That said this thread has some age, so revisiting the importers might prove me wrong.