Open source performs better, but is less convenient/accessible than a polished consumer product with inferior technical chops?
Even ignoring the broken display, which I think is a red herring here (it would be relevant if this unit had a pattern of quality issues or failures indicating systematic production issues), I think that's the story here.
I appreciate the response from airgradient, assuming it's all true.
If I was you, I would probably feel similar "you used my project, you probably want to hire me!"
But there's a logical fallacy there.
Your creation being useful to a person or company ≠ you being a fit to work with/for them full time.
Still, you deserved human eyes on the question from their side.