I am a small contractor. I have (2) excavators (Bobcat 435 mini-11,00#, & Cat 315CL-40,000#) and both have thumbs. I would not buy a hydraulic excavator without one unless I needed a machine that would do nothing except dig trench. Both units also have couplers (hydraulic actuation). One important thing to keep in mind: The thumb (whichever brand you choose) must be made to work with a coupler (and specifically for that coupler), or for pin on. The thumb is not interchangeable. I suppose it can be done but it won't work correctly. Bucket rotation and the distance between the thumbs mounting pins and the bucket teeth change when you add a coupler. Progressive link thumbs have advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that you will get more rotation (out) than with a non-link thumb. This allows you to "grab" things closer to the machine than you can with the non-link thumb. If you have never used a thumb, you won't know the difference. If you have, it can be frustrating when trying to go back to a non-link (for the operator). The disadvantage is that some models don't "stow" out of the way as well as the non-link type. This is not usually a problem except when you are reaching out away from the machine to almost full extension or if you are digging around existing utilities. The other disadvantage is that you have three more sets of pins and bushings to wear out. Furthermore this main link pin is often not visible to the operator (because it's behind the thumb for part of the travel) and if it should come loose, and the operator tries to use the thumb, it will twist the thumb and linkage all to hell.