I am a big fan of the tabletop method as well. I can't see needing a tool to do this when it takes literally 5 seconds on any flat surface. And I have never had a problem with the Tayda "cheap-o" DIP sockets for 8, 10, 16, 20, 28 pins for any pedal/MCU projects. In a way I prefer them over the "SIP" style round sockets.