I bought my ACQ cutter back in 2009 and have not regretted it at all. Strip dies do a lot more than cutting just strips. Turn the strips crosswise and you can cut perfect squares, for example. There are helpful YouTube and video tutorials online. I now have osteoarthritis in both my hands (worse on the right hand) and recently sold the ACQ cutter and ordered the electric version (Go BIG). It is supposed to arrive by tonight. Dies can be purchased for less...check Joann Fabrics online for their periodic deals....once they had some on sale at 50% off. Hope it happens again for others. EBay and Amazon can have some good prices, too. I have been to a few quilt vendor shows where dies are sometimes discounted by vendors.