Take the reviews with a grain of salt, everyone's opinion of them varies with their life's experiences. I had to chuckle at one person's review, she complained that it smelled like a wet dog - it made me wonder if she was aware that wool is a natural fiber that grows on animals.
Could you check to see if there's a local shop that sells them? Sometimes they'll have one in the classroom. Also check the vendor section at quilt shows, that's another place I see people trying them out.
Do a search on this forum for past threads about wool pressing mats, there are other options and alternatives to purchasing on the internet that have been discussed already.
