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I got to a point where I'd bought all the cheaper tools twice and was making enough profit to buy the good stuff!
Ashley Iles was the last of the sheffield tool makers who had apprenticed in the three main areas of steel tool production, his son Ray Iles is carrying on in the tradition.
If the new stuff seems too expensive there's always second hand Sheffield steel chisels, they're not a secret so you still have to pay reasonable money but I've not been disappointed by the results.
p.s. I've had mine for a while and didn't realise how expensive they've got.
Airhead
I have two hollow chisel morticers, one bench mounted one and one that clamps onto the workpiece for large scale joinery. They are great in a lot of ways but have definite limitations:
Because of all this I find that they are good for production work where one set up means that you can drill a series of mortices quickly and accurately but use a chisel for everything else.
Had a look at those pig stickers and they look nice but I've been using the same set of wicks firmer chisels that cost me £20 for that last 2 years I think I'll stick with them as I can buy another 2 whole sets for the price of one of the pig stickers!