Usualy i use Arduino boards ( MKRZero/Due and Every) for personals systems. Sometimes, i would program only the µC ( SAM megaAVR ...) for work on personals cards,
I'll be agree to use the Arduino board to program others identicals µC than this on board.
ZIF or single other interface will be an answer ...
I have the evil one and it works a treat.
Canadian seller and great to deal with too with a couple more interesting items.
EMSL is in Sunnyvale, CA. The Canadian company you're probably thinking of is "Solarbotics."
(and they're both good vendors with interesting products! But Solarbotics doesn't have a ZIF programmer product.)