i love the product design aspect of a product that only needs to have one thing set (in this case, the time zone), to be eternally a functional device which is why i love gshocks, both for design but also specifically the ones with tough solar/multiband 6 (and bluetooth (optional)) they have battery lives in the range of decades (due to solar charging), set themselves (multiband 6 is using atomic clock radio signals)…
Solar batteries typically last between 10 and 20 years depending on usage. They are very expensive unfortunately. Regular batteries are a better deal.
Regular batteries may be a better deal but that doesn't include the process of opening the watch, replacing the battery, and then resealing the case.
I'll trade $15 and a 15 minute job once every 15 years for a 15 minute job every 5 years. And no watch with a regular battery will have auto-backlight (for the obvious reason).
And also... if you want a deal, don't buy a $100 watch with auto backlight, capable of setting its own time off of a radio, and capable of ringing your phone when you can't find it.
F91W will do! That's why they're so popular!