A few years back my DDIL decided she needed one, because she was having trouble with the rulers and rotary cutter. Last summer I borrowed it to cut some charity quilts from my scraps. Decided I loved it, and asked her if I should buy my own or buy additional dies for hers. She said dies. I do think the key is having it out where it can be used. I don't get "ours" out very often. I would have bought the electric for myself, but do not find the hand crank difficult to use at all, but rarely had more than 4 or 5 layers of fabric.
Linda in Missouri