I bet your soldering iron is fine for everything you want it to do. I also be it won't let you work with tiny SMD components or reattach micro usb connectors out at the drone field where you damaged it in a crash...
Not everyone needs those features. If you do or want them, the moment you add even the simplest logic, you are better off getting a microcontroller already. No reason to bother with discrete logic chips anymore.
I have used for many years a standard soldering iron (not even a soldering station) with zero logic whatsoever. It worked, but nowadays I prefer to be able to set the exact temperature I want, to the degree. And to be able to monitor if the iron is able to handle the thermal mass I'm trying to solder.