The Wheelchair and Mobility equipment industry, like all others, experiences the same phenomena of consumerism including choice, independence, competition, variety etc.
People with various handicaps need to/ would want to make decisions, and of course informed decisions on the type of wheelchair they buy. Access to reliable information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment is in many cases not readily available unless one has access to a reliable provider of the information or therapist. Of major concern in the choice of wheelchair/seating equipment is the level of disability and dependence/independence.
Other limiting factors in choosing the right wheelchair is cost. Wheelchairs and mobility/seating equipment can be quite expensive and may sometimes require arrangement with third party players (e.g. donors, life insurance providers, Medicare providers, family etc) who may feature quite prominently in its acquisition. The implication is that the equipment purchased must meet the minimum requisite for the particular person/purpose. This is because third party players may not be available for recourse if the equipment purchased is not befitting the purpose or need of the intended owner(s).