I have 2 irons: a Black & Decker for quilting and heat set fusible web. It has a "cleaning" button to run hot water through and remove the gunk. Auto shut off-DH insists because I forget to turn it off. I use steam or not and have never had problems. All of them have lasted longer than any other iron. The other for clothing, and in a pinch quilting.
While in a class, we needed a very hot iron, can't remember why. Only the Rowenta Professional got hot enough.