Don't think about a chuck, get one. Like VS it is only of those things only people who haven't used it would continue going without. The only negative to a chuck is you add weight to your spindle decreasing the weight capacity for your blank.
I sell the One Way, Nova, and Easy tool chucks along with a cheaper house branded chuck, but I am not a turning expert or woodworking expert(scary, I know). I have had them all out of the package and have turned with only the Novas.
I don't know the easy tool as well as I should. Not many are interested. I was told there is a history of the snap system wearing out, but not first hand. That may be why they were off the market for a while and the issue may be resolved with new production chucks. Maybe someone else could comment.
The Novas are solid chucks with LOTS of accessories at a reasonable price. Many hobbyist turners start with them and never look farther. I have a G3 with insert about to get another G3 that is reversible. The Novas are so dominant they are the only chuck I really know. Not all the jaws work on the G3. The Power Grip jaws, which are really nice, are not recommended for the G3. There is a chart on the back of the chuck boxes that will tell you which of their chucks are recommended with which jaws.
The serious turners I know use Oneway chucks. People selling things larger than pens for decent money, even if not making a living off it. I probably wouldn't go for a Talon over a G3, but if looking at a larger chuck I would probably look at the Oneways. The Super Nova2 I used was quite nice and can be found for about $130 though.
As someone who worked in the aerospace industry previously, I am often quite disappointed with the machining/design/precision on woodworking tools and accessories. The Nova chucks I have used have all been better made than the lathes I have had the opportunity to run them on, several minis, midis, and full size lathes of different brands;and have exceeded my requirements for woodworking.
I can see where someone who was trying to make a living turning might say the Nova wasn't good enough and neither were the brand of lathes I have had the opportunity to run. The OP was talking about a Jet 1221 and that is a lathe I am familiar with(plenty nice for my woodworking and built like a tank).
The inserts won't allow reversing, but I can run my G3 on any lathe I have access to, from a Shop Fox mini to a Nova DVR. That is probably more valuable than reversing for me.
Don't even think about any of the discount/house brand chucks. Total waste of money IMO.