Well Yes,
Laundry presses generally exert more pressure per square inch than say a rotary ironer, but the later produces a smooth gloss due to the effect of calendering. Only true calendering or using a cold iron (kaltmangeln), gives a smoother result.
Have two vintage presses, an "ElnaPress" and a Hurley "Press/Ironer". Generally tend to prefer the Hurley since the buck (flat surface) is wider and longer than the Elna and is rectangular shaped. While this does give a greater surface area for doing flatwork, anything beyond napkins and pillow slips has to be folded and shifted about many times (called "lays" in commercial laundry), to the point of why bother.
Many of the home presses were not designed for large flatwork. There must be enough room in back of the buck for properly folded "ironing", so it can be moved forward as it is unfolded section by section for pressing. If the buck area is not clear, any folds caught will have very unslightly creases, which will NOT come out unless the item is washed again.
At least with an ironer, one can feed flatwork into the machine and away it goes.
Where laundry presses do shine is exactly the function in their name, pressing. Pressing is different from ironing, and some fabrics and textiles are best pressed and not ironed. Wools and woolens for instance, as well as anything one does not wish to have a shine.
Tend to think versus home rotary ironers, domestic presses were'nt that popular. While the Singer presses have a devoted following, it is mainly with seamstresses and others who sew or do craft work today.