[StillBored]

Well, I'm pretty sure the teachers don't actually understand 1/2 the functionality of most of these calculators even without the model variations.

Even the non CAS models can solve a lot of programs numerically which in my mind creates a lot of confusion about what people gain with simple programs.

Particularly as even without a built in root/etc finder, things like newton's method (or any numerical/recursive algo) can be used on the main calculation screen by using the previous result variable in equations and holding down the enter/repeat key until it converges or you get enough precision.

Most of them also have a constants list that includes pretty much every constant your going to use in science/engineering/etc school.

So I remember seeing some of my classmates programs for various classes and calculators (HP 84s/various other TIs), and I never remember wanting any of them because I knew how to solve the exact same problem with the built in functionality on my TI-85.