When I was working on the niagara We considered a low spin (450rpm)
It would require a very basic suspension system, but the suspension would add weight, inches and cost to the washer. or, to keep the footprint small, we would have to sacrifice the capacity.
Weight is a big concern, because the concept was making a washer so lightweight an elderly short woman can lift it with one hand. It also had to be small enough to fit in a tiny closet, or a cramped "NY" studio, or RV.
And at the same time, it had to handle a load similar to a Whirlpool direct drive top load AND be able to wash queen size duvets and blankets.
So the challenge was optimize every single millimeter on it.
Oh, it also had to be super sturdy, to resist shipping (we had serious issues with FedEx shredding the SuperPop.
The result was a washer that is SMALLER than an average European HATL washer. I used as a base a model from a partner company from Argentina and we pushed everything up to the limit (including drum and tub redesigned from scratch.)
Thinking of many complaints i read here at AWO, one of the "features" i made mandatory is "it has to use water enough to have tons of water sloshing. Save water, of course, but with common sense, staying miles away from being a HE washer that barely moisten the load and the cycles can't take 2 hours to finish.
And the dripping didn't become a real concern as the user can simply wait 2-3 minutes after the cycle is done before transfering the load to a spin dryer. It is possible to unload the washer without a single drop falling on the floor.
And... it has a SS drum.
All that said, the washer must cost up to 50% less than a BOL TL washer MSRP. That wasn't a challenge, that was a NIGHTMARE for me.
Now people that really don't have space and can't afford a fancy LG signature have an alternative different from those tiny mini washers we used to sell until a few weeks ago. It's a tiny washer with a full size capacity and fully automatic.(no spin, but it fills, washes, rinses and drains automatically).
Other thing that was somewhat challenging nowadays, make it 100% analogic. No electronic components at all. The control panel has an electromechanical dial with several different cycles and an on-off switch. simple as that, dumb proof.
My first idea was an electronic panel with bells and whistles, but that would add cost. I ended up using an old school timer, including the "clicks" when it advances.
It won't be the mother of the washers, of course there are washers much better than the Niagara on the market, with more features, with more bells and whistles, but it's a honest washer that simply does what a washer has to do (clean and rinse decently a decently sized load) and it was REALLY built to last and it will be affordable for people that struggle counting quarters for the Laundromat.