LCR Meters

[Legion]

As someone new to electronics I've only recently become aware of LCR meters. Couple questions.

1. DMMs, scopes, FGs and DC power supplies are featured prominently in most introductory electronics courses and books, but not LCR meters. Why? Are they only used for very special circumstances? Books like "Practical Electronics for Inventors" state "The three cornerstones of electronics are resistance, capacitance and inductance." Based on that statement, the name "LCR meter" alone would make me think it's one of the most important pieces of test equipment for general electronics. Clearly though, that's not the case.

2. Why not just roll all of that functionality into a DMM? Why a separate device? Is it a technical problem or a business one?

[BravoV]

2. Why not just roll all of that functionality into a DMM? Why a separate device? Is it a technical problem or a business one?

Business, not every one needs LCR functionality into a DMM which mainly only for volt, resistance and current measurements.

[Shock]

They have been around ages as expensive bench meters, mine is about 25 years old.
Before that since the "dawn of time" as separate instruments.
Over the years technology has become better, smaller and more affordable to the point where buying a handheld LCR meter isn't a big deal as it once was.
Like everything though, unless your using it - pointless getting it.