Another vote for Ace. I put one in my own garage first to test it out and ended up recommending them to three clients. Zero issues.

You said it's "treating a person like a problem," but that's missing the point. It's treating the thermostat like a problem, because to some people it's a big inviting button they just have to push. My compressor lasting five years instead of three before it breaks down is worth a little plastic box.

Wow, that's a brilliant trick with the mirror! It's amazing how such a simple tool can save so much hassle. Spotting leaks early really stops small issues from blowing up. I've had times where missing something like that turned into a huge repair. Using what you have on hand shows you know how to fix things. Glad you caught it before things got worse!