yep, i've gambled on switching everything over to the Godox TT685's, X1N's and AD360mk2.
So far I can't decide if it was a good idea or if i've just jumped from the devil into the deep blue sea
It's a pretty big gamble. It's common practice with a lot of manufacturers to let their customers do their product testing, it isn't good for reputation but in a country with 1.3 billion potential customers, reputation isn't a major factor. And a lot of manufacturers don't know anything about the products they make, and don't employ photographers who are able to advise them on usage conditions and the type of stresses that are involved.
Typically, it takes 3 or 4 production batches (at least) to iron out faults, so buying from an early batch is is very much a risk. If it fails, you'll be dealing with an ebay seller who doesn't have the means of putting it right even if he wants to, and with the very slender margins that these people work on there's no incentive to care about keeping their customers happy once it's too late to leave negative feedback. Even if only the battery fails, you'll have a big problem. It's OK with the cheap and cheerful Yongnuo flashes and radio triggers, there isn't much to go wrong with those, if they do go wrong the low prices mean that you can afford to throw them away, and they are mature products anyway, with any bugs ironed out.
This reminds me of another product, different manufacturer. Every single one of the first batch failed, and the people who thought they'd bought a bargain got that bit very wrong.
And even if the seller wants to help, you'll have to bear the cost of return, both ways, to China, which will cost at least as much as the selling price - and because it contains a lithium battery, it can't go by air unless you misdeclare the contents (which the sellers do).
