Update: today (19 Sep) I tried the $88 cordless for the first time. It can drill holes and it gave me a few pleasant surprises (below)

A few days ago, I would not believe I would spend so much on a questionable product. What changed over a few days? The constant danger I felt about power drilling.

Along with crossing road junction on bike, power drilling is one of the most dangerous things I do on a weekly/monthly basis. I have an inherent fear for the powerful moving parts. In a way, it’s a healthy awareness of human vulnerabilities. Yet there are many other dangers beside the moving parts.

Sugg: Glove for the hand not on the trigger. I feel better with the glove. Should put glove into the packaging.

Sugg: Avoid drilling above shoulder level.

— Why Am I so slow with any power drill job, often taking more than half an hour to drill one hole?
A: I’m extremely cautious at every step, about injury prevention and other checks.
A: I also set up my work area, partly for safety.

Sugg: there’s no point comparing my efficiency with other users, when personal injury is paramount.

— Cordless drills offer safety against electrocution. Battery is less lethal. One worry fewer.

https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/cordless-hammer-drills-for-concrete .. offers pros and cons ! #4 is my pick. Any model that’s recommended (even in the 5th place) is better than an unknown model.

• — my priorities
• [c] side handle
• [c] weight?  the lighter models are usually cheaper.
• c=better control

Choice: $132 Black+Decker

Pleasant surprises : battery-power is less noisy and (more important) less powerful/dangerous.

Now I feel the wired drill is powerful, but too powerful to be safe, just like the unix root account, or leveraged trading. I would rather go with a less powerful, more expensive alternative.

Now I think drilling metal, wood is better done with this cordless drill than the wired drill.

— China no-name $88 cordless .. both batteries need some periodic “exercise”, at least quarterly. If too troublesome, resulting in disuse, then treat it as a “self-training fee”.

No guilt please. This self-training fee is the lowest on the market. Typical self-training fee is $200+.
No guilt please. My safety is worth thousands of dollars.

This drill is far better than the wired drill for metal drilling, where speed must be much slower.