For a commercial component tester, everything needs to be fully automatic.

For a hobbyist, it is possible to use a tester that can automatically detect inputs/outputs and figure out logic function, but that requires manual steps to measure parameters that differs between families.

Let's assume a IC tester connected and controlled by a PC.

It would then be easy for the PC to test a chip and clam it to match a 74x00/74x132.

The PC could then request:
"Manually connect DAC signal to pin 1 for testing of input function."
- for a hobbyist, that manual step (with simple electronics) would separate 74132 (schmitt trigger inputs) from 7400.
- for a hobbyist, that manual step (with simple electronics) would separate 74HC from 74HCT, i.e. TTL or CMOS input levels.

The PC could then request:
"Manually connect ADC signal to pin 3 for testing of output function."
- for a hobbyist, that manual step (with simple electronics) would separate 74LS TTL-level output from HC/HCT CMOS-level outputs.

If the tester has a controllable load connected to the ADC, it could then perform a load test on the specific output pin, to guestimate the drive capability of the chip.

The important thing is that for a hobbyist - especially for a hobbyist with limited amounts of money - not everything needs to be heavily automatic. But being able to produce more results than just "quad 2-input nand" will greatly help if trying to use that chip in a design. Feeding TTL-level output to a chip requiring CMOS-level input signals is an epic failure - but not obvious to catch when the device doesn't work as expected. Feeding CMOS-level output (but with puny drive capabilities) to chips that has too power-hungry inputs can give similar problems - a 74Fxx chip for example has 0.6mA unit load at low state.

A hw professional does his work based on amount of money - either hourly salary or how much profit from developing and selling a product. A hobbyist has as main drive force the joy of playing with electronics. Being able to use simple circuits to learn more about an IC may actually be quite fun and rewarding.