I, too, go through irons frequently. The ones I bought in the last ten years simply do not get really hot. I also like auto shut offs because my iron was leaving me stick-on notes about shutting itself off. Somebody in the family thinks I might start a fire. Since there are only two of us, I have a pretty good idea of who is helping the iron write notes.
I do not like Rowenta. I bought two, quite expensive and the both leaked. Then, I bought a Braun and loved it, but dropped it too often when in a cement floored apartment (loft in Hobokien). Now I have another Braun. It is heavier then the last, but it gets hot.
My problem with inexpensiuve models is they just do not get very hot and I wear lots of linen, and am a quilter. Heat, not weight is the issue.