yeah, I agree, the cost of a FLer, hoping in todays standards, you get 10 years out of it, only to finally pay for itself....where are your savings?
but yeah, for doing a lot of wash, the only savings I see, or rather the advantage to a FLer, is HOT WATER.....if your not using it, a FLer is worthless...detergent used to be a savings, until the special HE formulas came out, making them cost more.....no savings there...
I went from a childhood one cycle wonder filter flo, to a TOL Kenmore with every bell and whistle on it.....for what?.....only to return to using Normal cycle, warm wash, cold rinse....never touching the other cycles.....I just don't see a need for all the fancy cycles and options....
plain jane machines seemed to last longer as well....