Great question and I love all the info. I, too, thought I needed the top of the line for my sewing. Not true. Have had a Rowenta for years, it spits, it leaks, it is an iron, nothing more, nothing less - it just cost big bucks. No rational reason this iron is "so great". I know a lot of the ladies are looking at that iron that you don't have to put upright, can't think of the name, it is close to $200. I can't see the plus to that either, now that I am smarter, lol. Afraid I would forget to put a normal iron up right after using one of those.