Tried to find a simple fitness tracker buying guide and couldn't — so here's the one I wish existed

Every guide I found was either 3 years old, affiliate-spam, or recommended watches that cost $500+ for someone who just wants to track steps and sleep.

Here's my attempt at a genuinely useful breakdown by use case:

Just want steps + sleep (no fuss): Fitbit Inspire 3. Long battery, light, accurate enough, easy app. Stop here if this is you. Don't overspend.

Want GPS for running but not a big budget: Garmin Forerunner 55. Fast GPS lock, solid training plans, 20hr GPS battery. Best value in its category.

Want lifestyle smartwatch features AND fitness: Fitbit Charge 6. Google Wallet, Maps, decent tracking. Accept that you're paying for the smart features.

Want serious training metrics (HRV, VO2 max, training load): Garmin Forerunner 265 or Fenix. Not cheap but actually built for athletes.

Budget under $50: Xiaomi Smart Band 8. Honestly? Surprisingly accurate for steps and sleep. Won't pretend otherwise.

The mistake I see most: buying a tracker with features you'll use for the first week then ignore. The "best" tracker is the one that matches your actual daily behavior, not your aspirational behavior.

Full comparison guide with detailed specs and a decision tree:
https://flexgearinsights.com/top-fitness-trackers/

What tracker are you using and what do you actually use it for day to day? I'm curious how people's real use compares to what they bought it for.