It all depends on your needs! I have a 3-pt splitter that I made for a 1958 JD 520, using the tractor hydraulics:
When I sold the 520 & bought my '04-790 I had to add a splitter valve & long hoses to reach the loader bucket connections. I tie the joy-stick off to the opposite fender with a tarp strap & use the splitter valve.
I bring my wood home from the farm & stack it along the fence about 20' from the woodshed. When I get ready to split, I just park the tractor between & go to work,

No, it's not fast, but I work alone & it keeps up with me just fine! As for putting hours on the tractor, I put around 100 hours/year on the 790, another 5 or so/year isn't going to wear it out!
The splitter originally cost me $250 to build with a new cylinder & used iron, the new valve & hoses doubled that. So I now have a whopping $500 invested in it with several years of use!
BTW, I split a lot of my firewood a Gator load at a time with a Fiskar's splitting axe, good exercise & I enjoy it!