Your Citizen could do job #1. It would do it far better. Why? It won't get scratched in the face...and thus, maintain readability forever. It will actually keep better time so that you don't have to adjust it everytime you use it. Since it is quartz vs. a cheap automatic, it can also withstand shock better, and thus keep better time over the long haul. And you know what? The Citizen is not that much more expensive than these cheap automatics! And since you really don't know what type of steel they used on these cheap watches, your Citizen will likely last longer without pitting. That is why I never criticized your Citizen purchase...it makes beautiful sense! (I use my Seiko Kinetic the same way...my beater.)
But, now, you're looking at a rugged Seiko Quartz. What are you going to do with your cheap $105 automatics?? Wouldn't the Seiko Quartz take over job #1 above?? But again, unlike quartz watches, your Citizen Eco Drive never needs a battery...no battery corrosion to worry about. This is why your Citizen is the perfect watch for everything you wrote above. Who says that your Citizen can't do job #1?
Now, for more fancy events, then I suggest that you get something nice. Citizen can do that too. None of the cheap automatics can do it as well. Why? With its poor regulation and the need to wind them, you will constantly be changing time everytime you pick it up. And sometimes, these automatics don't run after sitting for long periods of time...even Omega caliber 2500 have this issue sometimes!!
If you haven't realized it yet, automatics are horrible as beaters. That is a HUGE misconception by fanboys who think that automatics can be beaters! And this includes Rolex. I laugh my ass off every time some fanboy thinks that his Rolex is strong and is a "beater."
I am on several watch forums...not recently because I have gone away from buying watches. Timezone is another good one BTW.
Like Stanley, you have the same misconception. A Civic owner can say that same thing to a BMW 7 series owner. Why put up with electronic gremlins of an $80k car when you can buy a $15k Civic?!! That's unacceptable! Isn't that your argument?
Your Tag may have the screw issue. So what? You think that your Orient or Seiko 5 won't? Yes, they are "disposable." True. But, in the meantime, you have to deal with cheap bracelets, rattling, pitting, wrong time (thus, constant adjustment with a non-hacking movement), scratched face requiring polishing, etc.. Just like a Civic owner has to listen to his 4-speaker stereo all day while the BMW guy gets to listen to a 1000-speaker surround sound system that will blow his mind. Or the Civic owner has to wear headphones to get away from road noise. Pick your poison...but don't think that buying a cheap watch will be heavenly.
(I am not sure that you know what non-hacking movement is...but I hate it!! I am fairly anal and I hate that you cannot stop the second hand when adjusting time!)
$$$ buys luxury and comfort. Sometimes, in life, this is equally as important as reliability, right? And sometimes with proper research, you can buy luxury, comfort, and reliability all in one. I can tell you for sure that my Rolex will look a lot better when I give it to my kids in the distant future...and will hold a lot more value (both monetary and, possibly, emotional) to my kids.
Look, these watch forums are full of fanboys that will rationalize their purchase till the cows come home. FILTER THEM. Know what makes sense and what does not. You're new to the sport and I can understand what you're saying...I was like you a while back. Just be wise with your wallet. But, at the end of the day, it is YOUR wallet, not mine. Sorry for the killjoy.