Honestly, the sound test is huge. Beyond a gritty click, if you can wobble the lock lever side to side with your thumb when it's supposed to be set, that's a major fail. Visually, look at the teeth on the pawl itself. If they look rounded or uneven compared to each other, that metal is too soft and will wear fast. A good trick is to try and slowly, carefully push the lock open with your hand while it's engaged on the stand. If it gives at all without you pulling the release, run.

The Austin bride story reminds me of a study where people paid more for a chair after seeing a video of the woodworking. It taps into the "IKEA effect" where we value things more if we see the effort. Your perfect final bouquet is just a pretty picture, but a clip of you fixing a broken stem is a mini drama with you as the skilled hero. That's the connection people actually pay for.