Engineers tend to buy tools the way they build them: check the spec sheet, ignore the marketing, and pay for what the job actually requires. A VPN should be no different, yet the category is built to work against that instinct. Every provider claims military-grade encryption, the plans blur together, and the pricing is designed to push you toward a longer commitment before you've decided whether you need one at all.
The problem is that "a VPN" means very different things depending on what you do. Programming a PLC over a public network, accessing a company git server from a hotel, and protecting proprietary CAD files on a personal laptop are three different threat models. Pick by brand or by the biggest discount and you'll usually end up overpaying for features you never touch or, worse, ...
