$91.96 Now that's more like it.
However I can think of a few reasons to choose the PWR56:
- fault reporting and control integration of the PWR56 with the HC
- repeater function (handy on larger layouts)
- simplicity of wiring (no extra monitors needed)
If I'm not mistaken the PWR56 integration (ability to the power on/off) is for the gizmo, not the actual power supply brick. Even though there is no power going to the track when the PWR56 is turned off, the brick is still running. One has to ask why a remote control on/off button if it doesn't really turn the power supply on/off? And do I really need to know the temperature? All power supplies have integrated over-temp shutdown. The lawyers see to that. A device that catches fire is bad for business. Just ask Samsung right now about their Note 7 recall. For fault reporting a simple LED across the bus does the job just fine. One can put a lot of LEDs on the fascia panel for $100.00.
Repeater - yeah I understand that. Range has not been an issue fro me. My HC works from the other side of the basement 70' from the train room. But I imagine it is a different story in a busy radio environment like a show or apartment complex. I'll give you that one.
Voltage monitoring on a RailPro layout is absurdly easy. A $2.00 panel voltmeter does the job. It is a tie score on simplicity - Ring 2, Generic 2. PWR56 & brick compared to eBay PS and voltmeter. If you count actual number of wire connections needed then generic wins - Ring 7, Generic 6.
Ring had to offer a power supply to make his product a complete system. I get that. The off-the-shelf generic laptop brick he uses probably is sloppy on the voltage regulation as most bricks are. Bricks also are not suitable for a multiple power supply setup and Tim had to expect modelers to ask for such. So it makes sense he also supplies his gizmo interface which is no doubt a precision voltage regulator. That's why it gets hot and he is concerned about the mounting position. The radio communication is his trademark market differentiation so it too makes sense he includes it.
I am not saying anything bad about the PWR56. I am a delighted RailPro customer. Just making the point that for frugal folk such as myself there is a lot of money to be saved when it comes to power supplies. Money I can spend elsewhere on the layout.