I’m with you on the separate probe thing. I like to leave the probe in solution while doing other things. The pen types are a little top heavy and are harder to read.
I definitely agree about the .01 resolution. Be careful though, that’s not the same as accuracy. With ± .05 accuracy you will be within a tenth, good enough for our purposes. My meter, the MW101 is spec’d at ± .02, a little better.
I disagree with AJ about the need for ATC, though I’m not vehement about it. If you’re working at room temperature a few degrees is pretty insignificant. It’s needless cost and complexity.
I don’t know where to start with digital vs analog. It’s two different ways of doing the same thing. We are, after all measuring an analog quantity. At this level of precision, trim pots are the least of your worries.
If I were dropping a grand on a meter, I’d want all the bells and whistles. For brewing in my kitchen, I want something cheap, reliable and accurate.
There’s a lot of good information on braukaiser.com. The Milwaukee SM101 he’s talking about has been replaced by the MW101, the one I use. If you want ATC and digital calibration, check the MW102.
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=PH_Meter_Buying_Guide