Tools are solutions to problems...without actual problems or the forsight to estimate actual problems, I agree discussing tools is just a parlour game of shiny baubles.
I have some irwin taps of the types described, and they are pretty much 'meh'. I'd much prefer some better, standard taps. But I got them for a pittance...m6,8,10 with spec-sized USA/ HSS drills all for under $10 at Home Depot.
Unless you are a pro tech, you really don't need more than a couple taps, m5/6-12 range.
Once you know what you are doing, you stilll will unlikely go outside that range, but what you will want is variations in coating, and taper profile, flute profile etc. Those variations relate to the means with wich you will drive the tap and the substrate of your target applications. Oh, and then thread pitch variations. But that gets into engineeing blueprints and the like. But its easy to suddenly "need" m8 taps in 3 shapes and 2 surface coatings and another couple of thread pitches, and maybe a flute variation or two (like a forming tap). None of this will come in a standard kit, most likely. And certainly not a craftsman or a sub $100 dollar special.
Its impossible to really give guidance on how to build a tapset like you might need without actual problems. At you local ACE for $50 you can buy enough single-shape USA taps to cover random shop tasks. and then whan you have a specific need, you can order something more specific. If you need an m3/4 or something its very low torque, and maybe $3 bucks to pick up as a one off. A larger tap is expensive and likely a serious problem, not likely fixed best with 'whatever you happen to have lying around' (IMHO).
