Using Particle Mesh Devices with the OpenThread Border Router

When getting sensors working for the Photon I typically purchase 3 of the same type of sensor (say an accelerometer) but from different companies and I only tend to get one fully working, not sure if I give up on the others or if the other sensors don’t actually work with the Photon. So now I am looking to purchase 5 USB dongles to see what I can get going on a Linux box or the RPI3.

It looks like an openThread network can handle lots of border routers so I think I will get:

2 x $10 NRF 52840 Nordic USB dongles, so I can understand whatever @peekay123 gets working.

1 x $16 Seedstudio nRF52840 MDK Dongle

1 x $25 XBee Explorer USB Dongle

Can anyone make a suggestion for one more dev kit to try or if I am making any mistakes with the above purchases. I have found a few USB production ready OpenThread sticks but they are getting expensive.

kirale $49

em358 $??

ETRX358 USB Stick (not recommended for new designs ?? ) $??

Firefly about $53 USD if the Euro is really doing badly

The more I research the more I like the nordic usb dongle. Anyone know of any others?