That craftsman ratchet! Ok short story, had one very much like that one many years ago. Was my favorite ratchet. Lost it! Found it a decade later (no joke). Had it for a week, then was stolen. I went through an emotional roller coaster with that ratchet. Had a sentimental value to me and was bummed when it was gone for good a second time.
That is when I started my crazed tool buying. It started with the ratchet. I'm a bit of a ratchet junky these days. Lets start with my experience with the release button on higher end ratchets. I have a gripe about them. They work too well. The socket will not come off on my ratchets unless that button is depressed. On some of my cheaper much older ratchets I could still manage to remove a socket without button depressing. Problematic if I am loosening a bolt in a tight area and don't watch my clearance for my fat finger to get in there and release the socket. I will have to tighten back a little till I can. The pull off style is much better for that situation. So pick and choose for your application there.
I currently have 2 go to ratchets that I love with a release button. High tooth, not so much.
First one is the Facom sealed pear head ratchet with release button. JL.171 only 72 tooth. But that handle is so comfortable and the ratchet takes some serious abuse.
Secondly is even lower on the teeth count. The Koken 3774J. Longer ratchet, still a comfortable handle. I think somewhere around 30 teeth, but amazingly low drag. I have never had such a low drag ratchet that I can ratchet off even the loosest of bolts.
Now my next ratchet will be a high tooth with release button. If you want to spend the money you can get a Nepro 90 tooth ratchet with release button. NBR390 is one of the cheapest models in the 3/8
www.nepros.net
EDIT: I retract my statement about the Koken ratchet. It broke today. I would avoid this one.
