From today's perspective it may seem so, but back then, LCDs suffered badly by comparison of quality from one direction AND price from the other direction. It's easy to say "no compromises" in hindsight and for collecting. These things cost real money at much higher prices then, than the machines of today that are bought with badly inflated currency at those lower price points.
Back then any screen at all was a Godsend, so we weren't all that picky. The PB100 was a revelation, especially booting running from its battery backed RAMdisk, the TrackBall was better than it's less sleek sibs and size and weight . . . fuggedaboudit!
I lusted after the Duo 250's Active Matrix GS LCD, but the 230 was fine for anything but doing billing at the pool club in bright sunshine. It sufficed, especially with 20 & 17" CRTs docked on either end of the commute.