As my existing strimmer is just about unusably awful, I needed to get something to replace it. I had already decided to go cordless.
The device I bought was less expensive than a Makita strimmer. And I also got a short hedge-trimmer option.
I might have found a different make at a lower cost, but this does open up the option of all the other 18V Makita tools and few of the other manufacturers have as large a range.