perceptions
Different perceptions of a given item by various people can often be accounted for by the conditions and manner in which the items were used.
There are many variables, water chemistry (hard, soft), water temperature, load size, fabrics density and detergent quality, that may account for one person's perceptions of this little machine being different than another's. We have to be careful not to over generalize based only on our own particular conditions and circumstances.
The woman with the dirty jeans may have had a husband who worked as an auto mechanic and had grease on his clothes, or other equally difficult stains. She may have used a bargain brand detergent and not had her water heater set high enough to give proper washing results for the particular stained materials. She may have had hard water that reduced the detergent's washing ability. None of the above are the the machines' fault.
I can't speak for jeans, as I was a struggling graduate student, when I had the little GE, and didn't have time to do any activities requiring blue jeans, ha. But under my conditions it was a good little machine, washed things very cleanly but did not rinse as well as I liked. That was remedied easily with a couple extra rinses. I never encountered "suds lock" nor did I ever have to "prime" the pump. But yes I had to use multiple spins and rinses. But those were just my particular circumstances.
Once again hard water versus soft water may account for peoples various perceptions of rinsing ability, as well of water temp. and of course, the detergent itself.
I can't downgrade a portable for not handing "large" items because it is not meant to. It is a portable. That's like condemning a sedan car for not being able to handle a load of two by fours. It's not meant to. You use a truck. If you have "large items" and you have a small portable washer, you take them to the laundromat.
For someone who has little space for full sized washer or can't afford one. This little machine will serve them well with the obvious limitations.
Remember the operator of the machine has to have more intelligence than the machine to get good results.
Like John says its a "fun" little machine.
I enjoyed using it. (That was about my only entertainment that time in my life, ha.). It was fast, relatively quiet, and did a good job doing what it was designed to do. And with one or two extra rinses, I had very clean clothes.
The bottom line is we all see the world (and appliances) a little differently based on our own perceptions and conditions.