I did a lot of research before buying this machine. I knew I wanted to get a capable machine in all areas (PID control, strong steam, 58 mm ecosystem), but all of the options within the spec range I was looking for were at least 500 dollars, and many didn’t have all the specs I wanted. After using this machine for a little over a month, I have been very impressed. The only thing keeping this machine from being just as top tier as many 1000 dollar machines is its lack of long term proven reliability. Despite this, everything I have seen online and experienced firsthand indicates that this machine hits seriously above its price. With all of that out of the way, I would not buy this machine with the expectation that you will be getting the same experience as an ultra high end prosumer machine. It still only costs 430$, which means that some parts on it will reflect the cheap price point. For example, the PID buttons are difficult to press and it is hard to know when you are pressing it. The steam knob is plastic. But all of this is to be expected when you are paying 430$ for a machine with the specs of a 1000$ machine. These problems don’t bother me, but are certainly worth noting.