Agree about the usefulness of a scope. Try checking the quality of the non-overlapping 2 phase clock on a bally -35 with a probe. Easy with a dual-trace scope.

I built three Jye-Tech DSO 150 kit scopes, (around 20.00 each), one for the bench, one for my shop and one for my toolbox. Cheap, and like carrying a very deluxe logic probe. As the "DSO" part says, they are a storage scope, and allow you to scroll the waveform which is saved.

I put LIon batteries and a wireless charge aboard, so no external power supply needed. 200KHZ bandwidth, so most signals can be seen.

So: scope not necessary, but handy as hell, and my go-to for troubleshooting mpus, power supplies, matrices..

Rod

yeah, can't get much cheaper than those Jye-tech kits. Limited as to speed - 200khz, but like those old radio shack scope/probes, now unobtainium, they will tell you if you have a valid signal. Small, but add a battery for travel, or carry a 9v wall wart.
Also, as many have pointed out, scopes are relatively cheap new these days, and ebay has some good deals for the wary...you could get junk. Great for learners.