Great posts!
I have a small collection of older, moderate-cost ($25 to $35) compressors (12V) that had reasonable reviews at time of purchase (Walmart, Home Depot).
I keep one in every car as a safety precaution. They are used only occasionally - surprisingly most of my on-going problems have been with the plug, cord, and switch - as if sitting in the box somehow degrades them.
For my family's drivers, quick & easy-to-use away from home is important (no battery clips, cheap lever-style hose connect).
Fortunately, we have never had to use them (or the spare tire) in an emergency ourselves, but we have been in settings where a compressor was very handy to help someone else.
My compressors are all light / intermittent duty - wore out one over course of 30 years, and I sometimes run them until they are rather hot, unintentionally. I plan extended errands afterward to recharge the car battery.
Except for one maddeningly slow one, I have been fortunate to get 12V compressors that raise the pressure in my Accord & Odyssey's tires by 1 psi in 12 seconds -> I use a hand-held gauge + counting then hand-gauge again rather than the awful built-in analog gauge. This works well for me on the cars, and is not-too-fast for my bicycle & basketball.
I try to use my compressors exclusively on my tires on warm-ish, low humidity days. If cold weather is coming then I account for 1 psi drop for every 10 deg F ambient drop - this works well for me - tread wear is very even.
Past experience with gas-station hoses (OH, TX, TN) is that they contain A LOT of condensation. I always have blown them out initially, but some just keep blowing water mist into my hand - hard pass on that station.
Gas Station water mist actually caused a problem many years ago in Ohio. In a cold-snap in the fall I pumped-up all tires ~3 psi during the day at about 40 deg F, then it fell well below freezing that night. I discovered one slow leak the next day. Water vapor in the valve froze and opened the valve slightly. Easy to correct, and I learned later this is a common issue / scenario.