That said, I'll input on the subject what I've said before in the recent past...
I used to be against HE washers, as well as "resource-saving" dishwashers, for the longest time. I loved the machines I had grown up with, the Whirlpool PowerClean, the Maytag-Voyager I have, the KitchenAid Superba top loader from my childhood, the Lady Kenmore my grandmother had, etc. I couldn't bear the thought of those machines being altered to use less water and to work differently, because I felt there was no way they could get any better. I had an opinion against new machines and new technology because of what I had heard and what I had seen through videos, most of them being users that were unhappy with the machines. So of course, the worst was brought out. We all know that the first people to review a product are the ones unhappy with it, and we all know that the majority of our society couldn't care less about how their clothes or dishes are washed, so they're not likely to post a video of the machine properly working the way it was intended. That's why searching YouTube for videos of these machines is a bit of a chore, because you have to filter through the repair videos, and videos of the machines malfunctioning and hearing commentary from the user about what a "piece of crap" it is. It is those videos that I can no longer take seriously, because upon paying close attention you can usually deduce that it was user error or neglect in the first place, more often than an actual design flaw.
Anyway, moving on.. I had no right to have the opinion I had against newer machines because I had never taken the chance to experience them or learn about them. That changed just less than a year ago when my Maytag Bravos XL was brought into my home. Long story short, the one HE washer design that intrigued me and impressed me from what I had learned about it, through its design and engineering history, was Whirlpool's Oasis model, also known through its cousin Fisher&Paykel SmartDrive. A chance came up for me to buy a new machine, so I took the plunge. First few days was a learning curve, but almost a year later, I wouldn't go back to a normal top-loading washer for anything in the world. Despite the lower water levels this machine uses, I've had no reservations to pile clothes in to the brim of the basket, as filthy as they can be, and with no problem whatsoever (so long as the clothes are loosely piled around the basket, with just enough of a tiny "donut-hole" in the middle so that nothing will spread across the washplate during the presoaking spins) every load I've washed has been cleaner and more thoroughly rinsed than it would in my traditional Whirlpool. More so, the machine does an excellent job rolling over even the largest of loads when instructions are followed on loading, and the load is so nearly dry because of the spin speed that drying time is cut nearly in half. In all honesty, there's no more effort that has to be put into the process of doing laundry than there was with "traditional" machines, except this machine, to me, is much more fun to watch. I plan to keep this washer until it practically crumbles into the floor. Yes, there is a lot more plastic in machines these days than in decades before, and yes, I do feel there could be an improvement in the build quality of certain components, but overall I've fallen in love with the washer, and it has renewed a desire to try new technology and machines again, so much so that I actually would love to have a new Whirlpool or KitchenAid dishwasher, and even finally bought a brand new car that is designed and built better than the previous one I had that I was convinced couldn't be beat.
Yes, there are HE washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, etc., that have not done well. For example, despite their cosmetic similarities, the VMW version of the Whirlpool Cabrio and its Maytag and Kenmore clones is VASTLY different than the true Oasis design like my Maytag and
@joeypete's Kenmore. The VMW's didn't fare as well, specifically from the lack of a recirculation pump and the lack of the direct drive inverter motor. TRUST ME, I'd choose the "toy" inverter motor, as you called it, over any other. I've been infinitely impressed at the sheer amount of torque and power this thing has without the need for gears or pulleys. The point is, there will always be the good and there will always be the bad. You can't round up an entire category of products into one pile and dismiss them as junk. It is perfectly fine to have passion and enthusiasm with opinions, and in my own opinion it's preferred because it makes debates here quite interesting, and I've learned so much myself in the time I've been here. But don't try to start these bashfests about things without at least trying them yourself or listening to others that have, and bring something more to the table than repeating rants that are nothing but vague insults and accusations that are not confirmed or factual.
