Taking a wheel off is all of five seconds, but OK. I guess it's hard for some people.
Read before you write. I have canti brakes low and tight to true wheels, so I have to either deflate the tire (there's 5sec right there) or loosen the barrel at the cable stop. Which is why we're talking about inline quick-releases.
It's an extremely well-made and precisely machined component of at least Ultegra quality. You're not going to buy anything like it for $5.
I don't expect Ultegra quality for $5. It's an extremely simple concept that can be made in China for 50 cents at 90% of the functionality and 0% of the finesse. I don't fault anybody else for buying luxury components for their bike, but I'm a cheapskate. And no, my bike is
not falling to pieces under me.