Day 5 Cloning: Many of these tools have key programming slots... should I do keys too?

It is a slippery slope and a large learning curve that came from my module cloning tool build up. Half these bench cloning tools have slots for you to put smart keys in for programming. After 1 or 2 of these tools you ask yourself what else you need to program keys since you got functionality on tools you paid with you are not using. Surely it couldn't be that hard to add key replacement services to your income stream...

This is one of those fields that the you really have to read between the lines when it comes to what is on the internet to answer your questions. Half the existing locksmiths tell horror stories, put up videos that are deceptive, don't include information about the tools they are using, or even the most helpful bit being an offhanded comment in parts you might zone out in.

Example

I watched a video of the Autel KM100 programming a Toyota smart key to a 2015 Toyota Prius. He goes through all the process and is like "this is how to do it." Several people are in the comments saying the Autel Brand key they made would not program with that method to the vehicle. Well if you read closely it specifically says that the guy is adding a OEM key to the vehicle. Why not be more clear about the title so as to prevent this kind of miscommunication? Some time later I was watching a video about the tools a small automotive locksmithing business is using to do keys for customers. Guy has a ton of keys but out of all of them there is only one key specifically mentioned when he talked about restocking that he makes sure to always have at least one of. It is a specific Xhorse brand key. Odd... when the whole video he talked almost exclusively about how he makes all his keys with the Autel KM100. He mentioned an Xhorse Max Pro briefly towards the beginning of the video.

Could it be that there is some issue related to Toyota smart keys that Autel has not addressed yet? Why stock only 1 type of key that is required by only 1 of your tools? From other videos I have gleened that there is a hard to find Autel 5-6 button key for the new 902mhz ford remotes with it being the only aftermarket key to support this new frequencey (range). That Xhorse keys should be used for Nissan and Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products.

My biggest question after several weeks sliding down this slope is why do you need so many different tools and different brand keys?

Even on the same vehicles some tools are better then others. There really should not be a "Why can't my Autel not do this or that" when they literally have direct OEM access to the information they needed to specifically develop the functions. It is not nearly the minefield all the experienced people make it out to be.