Been doing my research on compressors too. The conclusion of this
blogis that the big price difference between this Omega and Chinese compressors comes down to convenience.
The Omega has little in the way of user limitations. It seems to do work as most people expect a compressor to; it can fill large tanks, unsupervised.
The Chinese compressors need to be used wisely because you can't fill a 80cu scuba tank straight off without burning up the compressor. I think the writer of this article has it right. If, and only if, you are willing to babysit your compressor and never walk away from it when it's running then the Chinese products will work for you. The writer also says he would never use the Chinese comp to fill a large tank. Rather, he would have the 80-120cu tank filled at a scuba shop and use the chinese compressor to top it off before the psi gets to low. He also write the best use for these chinese comps are for filling the gun's cylinder directly. It can fill the typical gun (200cc) in 90 seconds and with that kind of a duty cycle it should last a long time.
So if you have 4500, 3400 & 3000psi tanks set up in a cascading fill station - you pretty much need the high run cycle of the Omega. If you can fill your gun directly, or Air Venturi 13cuin tanks or come up with a complex system of topping off large scuba/scba tanks on a regular basis then you can 'get away with' a lesser compressor. Convenience does have value and to me, thats what the Omega represents. However, I work on a shoestring budget for my hobbies and I really appreciate there is a less expensive option even though it means a more difficult to use product.
Set n Forget vs Constant management
http://gunroom.com.au/pcp-compressors/Some day I'll be a wealthy airgunner and I'll have a gun butler to maintain my arsenal. Until then, brother can ya spare a dime...