times and conditions have changed, not always for the better, and in a hard-to-sell market for just anyone, only a select few, like ourselves, would recognize the benerfits of a FL Westy, great low-wear washing, several rinses, less water and detergent......I had two of these tall tumblers, loved them....
for instance, in High School, Consumer Economics class, I did a report on the FL Westy, and all its advantages, plus brochures, and saving resources plus clothing....and got the biggest red "F" the teacher could put across a page....
the teacher, like many Consumers, read Consumer Reports, and hailed it as the Bible....and as she stated to me, any intelligent person would read this, and note that Maytag's Dependable TL is the one to choose, and my info was unfounded....and stated that what would any 16 year old know about washing machines, when CR intelligent personnel is there to advice on the best purchase, and we would never see a time of water or detergent savings......this was around 1980.....
I was handed a CR magazine, and told to re-write my report, although I felt I was right......the problem is how many teachers like this are informing students of stuff like this?...CR can be used as advice, and info, but not the Holy Grail!...
CR gave these Flers at the time and bad grade for dependability.....not for low-wear on clothing, or energy/heat/detergent savings in the long run.....
even in the 70's, SQ solid tubs got a bad rap from CR, mainly for capacity, water use, sand removal....it could have been the worst washer ever made/sold according to CR....but I wouldn't have any other than a solid tub....IMHO
really though, the person to ask is not CR, but any Service Technician, for aything you are about to purchase, they will truely tell you the good and bad of anything you ever buy.....
any given area can change thoughts, but in my general area, we have two dedicated SQ/Maytag dealers, we are mainly BlueCollar and Farmers, according to them, SQ outsold Maytag for people who wanted a HeavyDuty Kick-Ass washing machine that would handle such loads....your mileage for your area may vary...
back then, manufacturers gave the people what they wanted, today these low water mchines are pushed on us, and no one is listening to our complaints!...