In speaking with my auto tech brethren I've noticed a trend that all big dollar tools are owned by the shop & rented to the tech for specific jobs.

The auto tech's are flat rate & the cost of the rental is incorporated into their pay for the job, but any breakage, etc is not- the tech has to report immediately if the tool isn't working- broken, etc, & if it isn't working when they're finished with it, the cost of the repair of the tool is on them.

This apparently was in response to the electronic tools now considered to be tools of the trade which were constantly being broken by techs- this new system has dramatically cut down on this issue so I am told.

Not sure how this could be incorporated into our field, but it's food for thought.