A $29 router(shipping excluded) is probably one of the cheapest routers your gonna find and the fact you have a chance to hit a jackpot??? I dunno, doesn't sound too bad to me.
Shoot, $29 for a portable phone charger is better then you gonna find at a Verizon store... Go to Walmart or Ebay!
I don't know I think best is currently tplink nano you can get it for $18 on amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Wireless-Repeater-150Mbps/dp/B007PTCFFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443673916&sr=8-1&keywords=tplink+nanoThere is a version a little harder to find with usb integrated and it runs ddwrt and Avalon used it for a controller (that or PI).
But I agree it was cheaper then I thought it was going to be which is nice. I am hoping it has a nice interface they have not release much on interface.