HEATERS
Our Duet had a heater and our current Affinity has a heater, but the only cycle that involves the heater on either of those machines is the "sanitary" one, which takes over two hours. For that reason, I don't use it very much. We've had our Affinity for six years and I can probably count on both hands the number of times I've opted for a "sanitary" wash.
Are there other FL machines that employ the heater on more everyday laundering type cycles? I'm leaning toward being able to live without an on-board heater considering how seldom I take advantage of one currently, but for the price I'd be paying for a SQ FL, I think it should have one anyway.
And yes, they should have a "contact us" on their web site that allows for e-mailing their consumer relations department. It's simple: If you're on line pushing your product, you should be offering viewers a way to contact you on line as well.
Having said that, I'm willing to forgive a company that's dedicated to keeping an effective old-school laundering technology alive through its top loading machines, and is equally dedicated to producing a FL machine with a 25-year lifespan. That's where their priorities should be. I'll bet the Alliance back offices are a delightfully low-tech, and as a result, low stress place to work.