Shoutout to the $15 junkyard throttle body that outlasted the $180 reman

Tbh I always thought the reman parts from the auto parts store were the safer bet, but my 2003 Ranger's idle was surging so bad it felt like it was going to stall at every red light. I bought a reman throttle body for $180 from the parts store in Tacoma, and within 4 months it started doing the same thing again. I was ready to just live with it, but a buddy told me to try the pick and pull off Highway 99. I grabbed a throttle body off a wrecked 2004 Ranger for $15, cleaned it up with some carb cleaner, and threw it on. That was 8 months ago and it's still running smooth with no surge. I don't know if I got a bad reman or what, but I'm done paying full price for stuff I can pull myself. Has anyone else had a junkyard part outlast a new one like this?