We are speaking PLL here not VCO. The veronica is PLL but I thought Albert mentioned there were not a patch on the original NRG's.
If you account availability and price, features the PCS have the most going for them.

The only thing is the microcomponents mean you cannot service much. Although for the pices they charge I still consider them good value.
As long as you are not an idiot and run a low SWR and keep them nice and cool with a fan probably the best option. Not to mention decent power and stereo.

Of course there are more -DIY pirate- boards like the ones you have to populate yourself zozo, pira and a few others but some may see that as
a bit more hassle overall and then you are at 1W. It depends on what you want to do. if you like making them, I mean you won't learn much from populating a pcb
without the inclination to understand what the component are actually doing I guess.

I was susprised PCS were not spoken about more on the old forum given the ease of availability.