sabertoothalex The problem with generic converter is you never exactly know what you are going to get. Even old Amazon reviews might reflect a different model than what you’ll get today. So its always a gamble (albeit a cheap gamble on the generics). I have had some where the blacks were pretty crushed or the contrast off, others were fine.
The signal sent (especially 480i which is the majority of ps2 games) should be 4:3 as even the generic converter is basically just turning analog to digital. its 240p that pre PS2 systems (or playing ps1 on ps2) send that is the big issue that requires upscaling. Making sure the image is 4:3 has more to do with your TV’s settings than the upscaler.
I guess the major reason to go for the Tink is a “get what you pay for” stance. The signal that get sent is the crispest and most lag free I have experienced without all the set up fiddliness of other scalers. But I have give the generic component to HDMI converter to friends and they have been perfectly happy.
Oh a good middle ground might be the RAD2x.
I don’t have one so I can’t speak for it, but it is made in collaboration with the maker of the Retrotink, so I get the sense it is just a less featured version of the same tech. If you’re only getting a scaler for Playstation it might be the way to go. You wouldn’t have to buy the component cables if you go for the RAD 2X.