ok - not trying to stir anything up- but this confuses me
why would a beater/shooter not require measuring and that be reserved for collector grades?
a "beater" it would seem is more likely to be shot and maybe shot a lot, so if there an issue of any sort with the gun it's more likely to show up.
If you don't worry about wall thickness - that is most certainly your choice - no matter what the price of the gun.
I shoot more damascus guns than fluid steel and personally - i measure - I have passed on a very few for being thinner than I like, but the vast majority measure up and I am comfortable shooting them, so it would seem the odds are with you if you want to play the odds.