Looking for a good router for under $50 (usd). Any suggestions?

You can't put DD-WRT on it, which kind of hinders the device. Just my opinion.

He never asked about hacking his router. Either way Linksys is the way to go. Changing the Firmware will void the warranty too, which I would not recommend for anyone to do, not to say I would not do it myself.

Flashing DD-WRT isn't "hacking", it actually helps the router. For example the E1000, can't do dual bands on stock but if you flash DD-WRT you can do that and much more.

Making an electronic device do what it is not designed to do by the manufacture by changing the software or hardware is hacking. In this case it is legal hacking, but hacking none the less. On the same note jail braking is hacking, Rooting is hacking.

I try to shy away from referbs. for the fact that it typically costs more to diagnose a problem and to rework it.

If part A malfunctions 1/1000 times it is used. But if that part takes down part B all the time, the manufacture will replace part B and may not notice that the cause of the issue in the first place is part A.

So if you can get a really good deal on refurbished electronics that is the only time I would spring for them.

Well, I've owned the E1000 for almost a year, and it hasn't given me any problems. You must've gotten a bad refurb, because when I get refurbs they're really good, like new.

It is the manufacturing process. It cost more time and money to do something right then what it is worth. Electronic manufactures charge at least twice what it cost to manufacture (parts labor and facilities included.) someone in rework will typically get paid more then someone on the main floor manufacturing floor. therefor they are under more of a time constraint to fix it and get it out then buying new, thus they do not put as much time into it. Unless a device costs a decent amount (over 300ish) don't expect the job to be done right. Plus a linksys router is a single board solid state device with mostly SMD components that takes care to remove a bad part and to replace it, that or they throw away the whole board and throw in a new one and keep the case (increasing costs).

Ever wonder why referb electronics are usually not supported with as good as a warranty as brand new? No where on the amazon page does it mention anything about a warranty.

Also if it does come with a warranty it will be for an absurdly short amount of time, 90 days maybe... During Rework a component is more likely to abstain ESD damage. ESD damage may not be apparent right away, but may show up months after. It takes as little as a 20V discharge to damage a component but the person working on the device wont began to feel it until the discharge is up to 2000V.

Yes some referbs are good, but it is a little like what Forrest Gump's mother said "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get." In this case referbs are a little like life.

Well, refurbs are great in my opinion. For example, Apple's refurb devices are just epic, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than the new ones. Plus they have the same warranty as the normal new devices so they don't differ. My Cisco router has the normal warranty on it, 1 full year as the card inside FROM Cisco said.

An Apple refurb is basically a new device because they replace most of the parts!