For what it's worth... My mother volunteers in the electronics department of a really really big rummage sale that is held twice a year... and she says that every single Rowenta iron that has been donated in the past 10+ years that they have been volunteering doesn't work properly. Almost all of the Black and Deckers do though ;)
Save your money and put it towards other supplies :)
I'm sorry to hear that you've sprung a leak though :(