The switch contacts are a known issue. I picked up 6 faulty bench meters in the last year or so that used switches and every single one required work in that area, while the 5 with soft-keys had zero issues in that area.
I did fix two 8050A units and kept the nicer one for myself, also got the touch & hold probe for it. So I'm not saying it's junk, but it's a bit questionable to suggest that as a solution for the OP who asked for something under $500, not under $100.
The autorange & display speed of some of the VFD bench meters like the 8840A/8842A is unparalleled in my opinion. M-Ohm to Ohm in a blink... VFD is also far better for visibility than LCD, which can be a challenge due to viewing angles and lighting.
So if you want to be nostalgic or make the claim that "it can be done" then that is fine, but for daily tasks a large/bright/visible display, autoranging and softkeys are all good features that boost ease of use and productivity. There is a reason these vary drastically in price points...