To me, the tradeoff of an expensive modern machine vs an cheaper iterative process seems logical. I think it's funny that a second hand shop has the fancy equipment... but they must know it sells glasses more effectively.

Here, the machine results are used as a starting point, validated by A/B but I don't know if the human part is effective or just theater.

Well, assuming the optometrist charges around $50 per hour, after 10 patients it would pay for itself. I assume the machine is simply cheaper, which is why it was used.

Duped, because they are doing it the old-fashioned way?

Because they are making theater to justify their cost.

Did the machine tell you if anything else was wrong with your eyes? Could it?

It could determine my index accurately. It couldn’t tell if I had symptomless eye cancer, however.