Want to hear an old lady spout off about the "good old days"? I'm 82 years old, and until a year ago had used only 2 irons in my whole married life. The first was a Betty Crocker (now unavailable) which lasted me about 45-50 years; the second was an old GE I inherited from my mother-in-law. It probably was as old as the Betty Crocker, but was the most convenient steam iron I'd ever owned. I could push the control with my thumb while ironing. Unfortunately the dear old thing died, and I began using the Rowenta I bought after the BCrocker died; wasn't impressed. The automatic shutoff didn't completely shut off; iron was always slightly warm, which worried me. Now using a Proctor-Silex I inherited when my mother died. Works well but very inconvenient to turn the heat dial; takes two hands .... one to hold the iron still, one to turn the dial. How I wish I had my old Betty Crocker or GE iron!
There, that didn't solve your problem or make you feel a bit better, did it?