Funny you should ask! I recently started using my mini iron for no good reason except that I decided it would be handier. Well it was handy but then I had to use my regular iron for something else and went back to it. What a difference! I am doing a quilt with 16 pieces for a 12" block. So there was a lot of pressing and as far as I am concerned there is no comparison between the two when you are pressing different pieces for a block. It's like you said when you see someone else using it looks like it would be great and you feel like you are missing something. Sometimes you just gave to try it yourself--only telling you my experience.