Dave, the biggest perk for me was that the welder adjusts the power source (slope, freq, etc) automatically based on the material your welding via your amp setting. I didn't want to feel like I was sitting behind the instrument panel of a stealth fighter. I am a newbie and for the welding I'll be doing this thing is perfect. I can see the need for complete adjustability of the professional level machines......just not for me. I'll still probably pull out my mig for heavier material like 3/16 even though this will do it with a possible need for pre-heat. The hardest thing I'm having trouble overcoming is the pre-flow and post-flow. It just doesn't feel right. Lols. I use to weld 36" duct pipes with an acetylene torch because that was all the buggers would give us. So the ambedextious side of this isn't a problem.

David