Likely I have a thin skin about this particular issue, because of all the things I've been new at this was the one I got the most flak for being new and asking questions in.
So even my eBay knockoff Na771 takes less digs than a Boafeng? Harsh lol
Don’t get discouraged. I’m a General class and have had my ticket for 24 years. When I started I bought the 2 meter handheld I could afford at the time and still use it today. All my other rigs since then I bought used. I even have a Baofeng I keep in my Get Home Bag. Get your ticket and buy what you can afford. The important thing is to get on the air and get some experience. When you can afford it then upgrade your gear. Anybody that gives you shite about your gear, ignore them. Learn to be a good operator and you’ll get more respect for that than disrespect for your gear. BTW, I still do CB. As a wise old Ham once told me, “Radio’s radio!”
Terry