Bubble King, for example, has never released a model that you couldn't buy a replacement pump for. Mine came with their Askoll pump, which is discontinued, but I could buy their replacement RD3 or RDX pump which are all compatible and perform just as well or better.
But therein lies the rub…. You are still held captive my the manufacturer as you have to use their proprietary pump. Replacement of said pump can be anywhere from $400 to $700, the needle wheel replacement around $250. It’s a tough pill to swallow when spending well over $1000 on a skimmer.
The appeal of the Lifereef is that I can spend $90 on a Jebao or $700 + on a Red Dragon Speedy 3 or anywhere in between and it will still perform well. As a consumer, I am not held captive by a proprietary pump or needlewheel impeller.