Thoughts...
Like many shake-and-make techniques, practice makes perfect better. If you'd rather not practice on your layout.....big or small....then use a simpler, less expensive base....foam sheet, scrap plywood/Homasote, etc....until you get the hang stand of it all.
Nature is not prone to creating golf course/putting green scapes on her own.......Your worst effort (in your most humble opinion) can be most typical of Nature's process of taking over. Keep going! Don't despair!
To the best of my memory we (LHS) may have had but one customer over the last dozen years, or so, be willing to spring for the premium Noch-inator. OTOH, we've sold quite a few of MicroMark's alternative...
...which is quite affordable.
There was, indeed, an article for building your own applicator...The Grassinator... several years ago, 2010 to be exact. It was on ZTrains, a website re Z scale...no longer around, I believe. The basis was an inexpensive negative ion generator from a supply house in Australia. The rest of the pieces were as common as a Rubbermaid cup and PVC drainpipe, all of which cost less than $30 at the time. I built it. It works. It's what I use. But it's very similar in concept to the MicroMark device, so.....
Static grass MUST be popular! We (LHS) can't keep it in the store very long, and there are often delays in getting restock of some of the best colors, lengths, brands. Go figure. Tends to support the 'Once you've mastered, your hooked!' comments above.
Gotta try Fusion Fiber, for sure.
KD