Some units now are only $100ish, especially on sale :D
If you have the tinkering aptitude DYI is definitely way to go. These sous vide machines are really basic components. But most people want something that works outta the box and looks pretty. Ha ha, business!
That's an improvement, but I still don't see why they should cost more than a decent crock pot. Hell, my crock pot cost $50 and it actually came with a thermometer probe that plugs into the base and reads out on the front panel. You could practically turn it into a sous-vide cooker with a factory firmware swap.
If you have the tinkering aptitude DYI is definitely way to go. These sous vide machines are really basic components. But most people want something that works outta the box and looks pretty. Ha ha, business!