Why would a media tester be preferred over a visual inspection alone?

A media tester is preferred over visual inspection alone primarily because it can detect broken connections. While visual inspections can identify obvious signs of wear or damage, they may miss subtle issues that a media tester can uncover. Specifically, broken connections might not be visible to the naked eye, and a media tester can measure electrical continuity and signal integrity, which helps in assessing whether the cable or connection is functioning properly.

In contrast, the other options focus on attributes that do not directly enhance the testing capability in relation to connectivity. Aesthetic evaluations, for example, do not provide information on performance or functionality. Portability and lightweight features are beneficial for ease of use but do not enhance the testing accuracy or capability. Detecting signal strength is valuable in many contexts, but it specifically pertains to assessing the quality of the signal rather than identifying connectivity issues, which is a critical aspect of functionality. Thus, the ability to uncover hidden problems like broken connections is a definitive advantage that media testers hold over simple visual inspections.