Perforated plate distillation column VS just packing copper

[newb1]

Hi all, I am confused about the Perforated plate distillation column. I'm looking at buying a still and am told by the seller that a pot still needs to be run a few times to equal the output quality of a Perforated plate distillation column. They do sell a copper scrubber (mesh) filled column that's better than nothing at all but not as good.
The perforated plate distillation column is twice the cost of the other mesh or scrubber filled column.
I asked (but they couldn't explain) if the column is filled with copper mesh or copper disks with a bunch of holes in them, how does 1 out preform the other?

Here's a pic of what I imagine inside the perforated plate distillation column.