> you either want to get into electronics or not. If not, there's no real point in spending the money, even if it's $2
It's fuzzier than that; there are hobbies that look fun but I can't decide if I want to fully invest into them, but having a cheap, but not-great equipment is a good stepping stone. Besides, beginners won't have the skill to fully use fully-featured pro-level-gear. A cheap soldering iron is great for those looking to get their feet wet; sure the lack of precise temperature control can be a hinderance, but investing in an expensive soldering station is wasteful if one decides that it's not really for them.
It's fuzzier than that; there are hobbies that look fun but I can't decide if I want to fully invest into them, but having a cheap, but not-great equipment is a good stepping stone. Besides, beginners won't have the skill to fully use fully-featured pro-level-gear. A cheap soldering iron is great for those looking to get their feet wet; sure the lack of precise temperature control can be a hinderance, but investing in an expensive soldering station is wasteful if one decides that it's not really for them.