RevvnKevin,
I'm not Kevin but can I chime in about the Kenmores:
1. The lids. They opened to the left and stood up, but eventually, through wear or kids being rough with the washer, eventually the lid would be bend down to the point that it would damage the porcelain and rust. I remember Kenmores with 2 "wounds" where lid can down on the left. Actually, I like the lid being hinged in the back best, which Kenmore has had in recent years.
2. Agitator: Kenmore offered many so if you didn't like one just buy a model with the one you liked.
3. The control panels: I call these the "Star War" panels beceuse of the black background and they came out around the time the movie was released. But I really like the chrome and colored buttons that made Kenmore unique in the past and they looked like they belonged in an "optimistic" mid century house. Eventually, everyone had the black control panels - which I am sure were cheaper to make - and there was nothing unique.
But there was a unique washer and dryer I wish I had bought - The black Limited Edition of 1986 in black. Darth Vader, your laundry room is ready.