Re: Genuine question
The difference is these devices support 802.11k and 802.11r so that you can seamlessly roam between hotspots in your house. Your £15 TP-Link WiFi extender will work so long as you don't move the device from one place to another, especially if you move it to a place where it can still get a signal from the original hotspot, but it is rubbish compared to the signal it could get from the hotspot right next to it.
Remember originally WiFi was not designed with roaming in mind. Then we got a whole bunch of propriety hacks in expensive enterprise equipment to implement roaming and finally we have proper standardized roaming, which is beginning to make it's way into consumer equipment at reasonable prices.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
