one drawback that i can think of is that there is not enough water to deal with bleeding fabric and using retayne or synthropol. i don't have one. i like the 'old fashioned' kind. it lets me run the hottest water if i choose to use that. in my last home, i'd bought a 'green' laundry center type and it would not allow me to use hot water at all [it started adding cold if the temp got too high] and it wouldn't let me open the lid during the wash cycle to add or adjust the clothes. really... i don't need the machine mfg's to make me be safe LOL