I've used/seen grinders with the top lid being made from two pieces
If you want something that will hold up and last, you have to buy a 100% CNC grinder, and it's cheap to produce those these days, thus the quality I've seen with current inexpensive grinders. Gimmick grinders with clear tops or a handle for grinding will not hold up IMO.
This thing is quality made.
Sure it is. Any SC has better looks and feel (no burrs) than my Sharp Crusher, or even Cosmic, MnB, Mendo, etc. But are you going to buy it to look at and feel, or are you going to use it? In use, it's no better than my $12 Sharp Crusher cheapie, and in use, it's not worth over 4 times the cost. It just doesn't cost that much to use aircraft grade aluminum and cut from a single piece of stock (100% CNC).
I'm glad to pay a bit more for a product that will (probably) last me a lifetime.
And I'm glad to pay a lot less for a product that will last just as long. I've heard the SC stories for years- 'it's the only brand that will last forever and won't break teeth'. Years ago there was probably some truth to it. I've bought every name brand and some generics as well, and they've all held up and performed well, and MixnBall, for one, has a better tooth design than SC, which uses the standard diamond, 4 edge design.
I've used ones with too small holes, too big holes, shitty craftsmanship, etc.
Hole size is a preference, not a defect. Too small? The smallest holes are 3mm, and that's hard to find. Smaller holes mean a finer grind, and if you're grinding for a log vape, 3mm is preferable, and many people have sought out that size. The 4 pc. Space Case models have 5mm (small) or 6mm (med. and large) holes, and that's pretty much standard for round holes on all but the smallest grinders. The only SC with 3mm holes is the 4 pc. Scout. So your criticism of too small or too big holes, would also apply to the SC brand.
There are certainly still cheap grinders around that aren't 100% CNC and don't use high quality aluminum. But if you buy from a source that you can contact and that wants repeat business and good word of mouth advertising- dealers like Vapeworld, Puffitup, Kelly's Great Products, Merchantswholesale, etc., you'll find high quality, good prices, and a seller willing to stand behind the product. It's no longer necessary to pay $60 and up for a quality 4 pc. grinder. I think the real value, these days, in a Space Case, like the Volcano, is the high resale value. If you ever decide to get rid of it, you can reclaim a high % of what you spent on it.