[mikestew]

you'd never tell the mechanic, "...and NO AIR TOOLS!"

Oh, yes, I most certainly would. This is a great example of the tools being there for the convenience of the practitioner, not for your convenience or comfort (I'm sure the reader can draw parallels to child birth on their own).

When you, the mechanic, put the wheels back on you will use a torque wrench and torque the nuts to the proper values. Just I like I used to do 30 years ago when I was a mechanic. Because no one should find out at the side of the road that the air gun torques those puppies to 146ft/lbs, and you're not getting them off with that weenie little wrench that came with the car.

[BenjiWiebe]

If your mechanic doesn't at minimum use a torque-limiting extension when putting lug nuts on you need a new mechanic. Even Walmart uses torque wrenches for that. Source: am a torque-wrench-using non-automotive mechanic, used to work in Walmarts shop.