Numerous inflators use a schraeder valve that can over time begin to leak. They hold air well and last a long time in applications like tire valve stems but they are not designed for a huge number of open/close cycles and are prone to contamination as any dirt or contaminants end up passing what is basically a flow by seat design.
It was common in the past of inflators to have an inflator button that screwed on to the stem and held the return spring in place. In the event the button unscrewed, the button would op off, the spring would go with it, and the next time you inflated, you would would push the bare stem in starting a runaway inflation that would not stop due to the missing action of the return spring pushing back up on the knob. In short, a really crappy design.
I have always liked the Scubapro balanced inflators as the design is balanced, making the addition of very small and precise amounts of air possible, is simple, is more or less idiot proof, and uses simple easy to replace o-rings for both the stem seal and the seat.