I have both the Big Kick (original Big Shot) and the Go. The Sizzix works perfectly well. I'd used the Big Kick for card making for years. I only switched as Sizzix dropped a strip die I needed and didn't have quarter square triangles. The Go does. I can't say about the cutting pads, the Sizzix has hard acrylic and the Go has a softer flexible material. I was using the cutting mats I had for cardmaking. They looked terrible but still worked. They must have been over 10 years old.
I mostly have squares and triangles, plus the machine and all the mats. Worked well. They were mostly 11/2 and 2 1/2, and 4 1/2 inch blocks and HSTs.
PM me if interested about more info. I need to find another home for it.
I have a Silhouette Cameo if I want to do applique. I tend to draw my own rather than use what's available.