Well, direct scan is not "hard" to hook up, but it is a procedure that takes some time, especially when cleaning the glue from the ecm. And it is a great scan tool. but more practical for the track than for daily driving. I would say get a scan master hooks up in a jiffy, easy to use, and easy to see while driving. As far as burning you own chips, dont bother. Too many guys like Jim Testa, Jay Carter, Red Armstrong, etc that know their stuff. Good luck!
Striker