I have bought cheap irons on recommendations from this board and have bought expensive irons on recommendations from this board and they all broke after a couple of years...I think we as quilters use our irons a lot more than normal folks so they don't last as long. I too hate the auto shut off and when I can find one without, I just plug it into the socket that is controlled by my light switch so when I leave the sewing room, the light goes off and so does the iron! Right now I have a Sunbeam that I got rather cheaply but it's driving me crazy--it wants to shut off while I'm ironing! I have to move the iron a certain way or it doesn't register that it's being used but I like it because it has great steam! I also have a Continental Platinum that does not have steam holes and I used that for paper piecing and applique. I also have a Rowenta Steam iron (the kind with the separate reservoir and the most expensive -- around $200). I've had it a while and it works great except that the gasket to the reservoir wears out and I can't find any place that sells them
, so I've been using that one for special occasions... One thing I can say about it though is that it doesn't leak or spit--I think the separate reservoir is the key.
So my recommendation to you is to weigh everyone's recommendation and then buy what you want with the features you need and don't expect it to last forever no matter how much or little you pay for it
