[quote=Hobie][quote=eavesdropper]
What say ye: should I go with #3 (leaving more $$$ for chocolate, cheap booze, vibrator batteries and other essentials)[/quote]

Like the priorities 😉 Not sure if it has been discussed, but get a natural gas unit. Cheaper to run. [/quote]

I was wondering about that. I’m definitely a natural gas proponent when it comes to cooking stoves and furnaces. But my experience with gas dryers has not been as positive: more expensive and it takes longer to dry the clothes. But it’s been almost 20 years since I’ve had a gas dryer. Have they improved in this regard?

[quote=Hobie] We ‘had’ to have one of the now older feature rich units ( maytag ) and the only function that is ever used is the auto sense dry mode. Works fine and is used daily! [/quote]

Exactly my point. Both of the dryers I use currently are “cheap models” (GE & Whirlpool), and they both have the auto-sense function, as does the $400 model I’m looking at now (in fact, I found it at another retailer for $357 last night). As far as I can tell, in terms of FUNCTION (aside from the steam dry option), these models are on even footing: same number of cycle choices, same temperature choices, same capacities.

And while I think the steam-dry function is nifty, it’s not worth an extra $400 (#2) much less $1100. Nor is the “Cycle Status” button (if I don’t care enough to remove my clothes from the dryer at the end of a cycle, am I really going to care about what’s happening DURING the cycle?) or the ability to choose volume control (“Soft” and “Loud”) on my Cycle Completion Alarm.

I think I’m just finding it difficult to believe that there can be that much of a price differential in the absence of a significant upgrade in function. Hey, I’m willing to pay more, but I want something in return that’s a lot more impressive than “Laundry Apps”.