Okay, so it did seem crazy to spend so much on a vacuum but I now understand why we did. I have two long hair indoor cats and two young children so I really appreciate a vacuum that can clean up whatever they leave behind (ie hair and crumbs). I laugh because when I initially received it, I can say I vacuumed a few times a week. I cannot believe how much stuff was actually in my carpets. Now, I only need to vacuum once a week to maintain. I really enjoy the bagless feature and the ease of emptying/reconnecting the canister. The extended wand alows me to reach my high ceilings and the attachments make it possible to vacuum around my curtains and everywhere in between. This vacuum is amazing!