I've owned a Strike Pro for years and yeah, they're solid for the price, but don't buy the hype that they're "pro" level-Roland still edges them out in trigger reliability. For your checklist: On the module, boot into diagnostic mode (hold setup + play buttons on startup) to check trigger signals; anything below firmware 1.5 is a pass unless it's dirt cheap, as older versions glitch on hi-hat CC. Quick hi-hat test: Open/closed should give clean velocity sweeps without double-triggering; foot splash needs firm pedal press for consistent 127 CC- if it's spotty, it's likely the sensor, not cal. For triggers, mute everything else and roll fast on snare-crosstalk shows as ghost hits; try threshold at 10-15 in temp settings to expose hotspots without messing up the kit. Cymbals: Hit bow/edge/bell zones hard/soft; chokes should mute fully on grab, no partials. Hardware-wise, check rack welds for cracks (common fatigue point, $200+ fix) and snake cables for frayed pins. Heads are 8-14" standard, easy swap. Hi-hat controllers: Alesis-specific, but Roland FD-9 works with tweaks. MIDI to VSTs is fine via USB for low latency (under 5ms), but watch hi-hat CC4 range-EZDrummer maps it wonky sometimes. Outputs are clean, but test for ground hum on a PA. Used Strike ~$800, Pro ~$1200 clean; walk from any module glitches or dead zones. Pack in cases with foam around piezos. My 5-min test: Full playthrough muted to one pad, then diagnostics-spots 90% of lemons. Good luck, but consider a used Pearl Mimic if you can stretch.