This was a great choice for me. I was broke but boy did I seriously want this! Lol!I (unfortunately), had just bought THE teeniest tiniest die cutting & embossing machine ever created lol! (Yeah cuz it was cheap on Temu! & I will admit that I also didn’t look at the measurements ‘til after I received it.) & I am not sure why, but all my nice die cuts weren’t working at all in the middle on the teeny tiny machine I had bought, & that was such a horrible let down!So, I decided to study a bit more on all these. Then, I went out & bought a metal shim and then I went onward to buying a new, better, & WAY bigger machine!!!So after I read alll the many MANY reviews I decided on four diff machines. & Later, I finally agonized it down to just 2…Oh & here, I just gotta say to the that pretty & smart lady who made that one review video showing her new blue die cut machine that also folds up nicely (& more compactly too), “just WOW was she good!!!!!” and then I will say and “Darn was that video Oh So Very tempting!!!” Cuz she had totally made that machine amazingly enticing & should seriously be a sales lady instead, cuz I almost bought that one- just because of her or her review video on it! True story!But, I waited a bit more & pondered a bit more & bcuz this one was just a great buy, (with such good reviews ) ANDDD bcuz it seemed much sturdier and like it’d last longer possibly,- I decided on this one.Then, I waited over a month before I did this review too, just in case of any problems… Luckily, I have not had any so far, (fingers crossed..)Here, I now also must say that I do NOT agree with most of the semi-negative reviews (on this machine)…Like how others stated in their review where some said it was hard to turn. Well, for myself, that is Not true at all. Mine is so, SO EASY to turn that it’s honestly surprising and kinda odd & incredible! (Esp after that hard to turn tiny one I had before…) Maybe tho, they didn’t screw in that one screw tight enough… (I did mine in pretty dang tight just in case they may worked looser later on anyways I was thinking...) Or, it could possibly be that they may have had too much stuff in their sandwich. I only this now to help others here that may not know this.That too much in your sandwich will make it too hard to operate and turn.Also, of the other bad reviews I read, mine has had no odd noises while turning the handle either…So bottom line is that this machine just works and it works well and it works easily! Thankfully.I think truthfully (& it’s just my own honest opinion) that many of us are new to these type machines & thus we leave negative reviews for things that are newbie errors or are just some things that are normal but that we think is a problem when it’s not..For example, all these many, many reviews on these type machines just because after using them, people get marked up plates…Well, from what I am learning, scuffed up plates just happen w wear.. It is very normal.Later, over time, if it becomes a problem, you then just reverse your plates upside down and then can get much longer life and use from them.Then after that’s done with, they even sell new replacement plates cuz it is normal w time and use. It is just normal. Ok, well, sorry so wordy!All in all, I really like this one machine & am pretty dang happy w my purchase. Tho, I still will admit that the Big Shot Plus Sissix brand machine (tho it looks like it takes up a ton of space and is super heavy), Boy does it still just tempt me for some reason I just gotta say… Maybe cuz it looks like it cuts easily and well also, BUT the reviews decided me against it. ;)This one however, was pretty great all the way around in pricing, quality, sturdiness, fold up & make it small enough to store ability, cutting, embossing AND reviews too!!!Plus, it has a great body design that is used on lotsa other machines also it looks like. (Just branded w diff names probably..) But regardless, it is very sturdily made & it’s easy to pack up & away, (tho it also is kinda weighty too.. just an fyi if your older or frail.)But this one just seems very well made all YHE way around, and I am very hopeful that it will last me a good long time.That is exactly what sold me on this one and I am very content w it thus far. So it is just a Great product that plain works out each & every time, easily & well. Agn, I do NOT have to fight to turn the handle at all. So I am Just very happy w it. Cuts like a dream! Embosses easily too!(OK that’s all on the machine review..)Finally, I’m going to leave a tip on extending the life of your die cutting plates that I read from another Amazon reviewer. & cuz it helped me lots, I’m passing it along here also.So, to lengthen the life of your die cutting plates, (& to save marking them up like most people hate to do!!)Buy 2 of some of those cheap & flexible veggie cutting mats (the Dollar Store DOESN’T have them anymore here, unless you buy 50 at a time!), and then cut them down to size.Then use them above and below your paper and die cut. Switch these out w the 2mm or whatever plate size..(If you get 2 of the cheapest of these, it’s usually a perfect 2mm replacement. If you go thicker and more quality then it may be the 3mm plate you’ll have to switch out...)Anyhow, I tried this, and it works AMAZINGLY WELL! Better than before actually!!!So I am very thankful for Amazon reviews just like this one and I also hope this review helps others too even tho it’s a huge book!!!! ;)(Hagd all & Happy crafting!)