70$ voltage regulator vs 20$ one, is it worth it?

mmm
just read about how these work and have rapidly moving parts (points).

guess some quality might be in call. or I'd have to figure that its my VR that maybe went bad (carry a multimeter around too)

but your parts look odd wrong dan, I'm looking at vr32b or vr32
your vr128 unit looks like a "two unit regulator" or something (it has three terminals) and the vr1001 has a goofy terminal. are you sure these are right and better then a vr32? I'll just check for made in USA on the vr32 otherwise.