Yes, these have been around as resistance / capacitance / inductance "decade boxes" for at least a century, for example: http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm

Yes, these have been around as resistance / capacitance / inductance "decade boxes" for at least a century, for example: http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15421coll3/id/494/rec/5 http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem... http://www.mouser.com/Test-Measurement/Decade-Boxes/_/N-7uqlk http://www.mouser.com/Test-Measurement/Decade-Boxes/_/N-7uql... But if the guy can kickstart an inexpensive one for hobbyist use, that's cool.