Well Skeeter, here's my story. Years ago I worked in a group whose lead engineer was a guy from Cadillac. He insisted that we only use a beam type torque wrench.
Later in another job, we moved up to click type torque wrench, but they had to be calibrated at 6 month intervals, until the stability of the calibration was determined, then we would send them in for calibration every year, for a 3 point check. With digital, style we were required to have them calibrated every 6 months. I worked in the metrology lab for a time doing calibration. One thing, I noticed is with the cheaper brands, there were no parts available to fix them. CDI, ( which Snap on bought ) was the preferred torque wrench, and they did make parts available. Expensive, but , it could be fixed. A beam type, with care will last forever. A click type , IMO buy a good one, if you strip a ratchet head, you want something you can get parts and fix. Most digital wrenches, ( except CDI , and a couple others) when they are broke, they're broke, no parts available to fix.