There is only one choice, Scotty! Besides being the superior product , the customer service is simply outstanding. I have one of the earliest models and one of the later ones and have no complaints with either. I have had the old one in twice in it's lifetime (I bought it brand new at the Reel Thing) for maintenance and both times they installed upgrades at no charge. One was install of auto shutoff vs foot switch, and one was brakes. The newer one has been in once and had the brakes upgraded as part of the maintenance and again no charge. I have never had any downtime on the water due to a failure of either unit. The old one is probably around 17 years old and the "new" one is closer to 14 or 15. There is only one choice, Scotty! Outdoor Emporium has probably the best price and selection and they have factory authorized service available should you ever need it. I will add one piece of advice on the Scotty, when braking to a stop, ease the brakes on, do not just let go of the handle, you can snap a 'rigger cable or possibly break a belt especially if you are running the large lead. Good luck with whatever you get.