Hey Monkey- the facts are what you are getting with the Volcano is a very reliable piece of equipment that is well made and will last a lifetime. The thermostat is very accurate as opposed to many of the other out there. It is also all metal, not plastic like alot of the others. $500 for the older Volcano is a good and fair price- I paid $580 for mine 5 years ago and it still works like a charm. The negatives of the machine are its expensive, it takes a while to heat up, it's not really mobile and you'll occasionally have to buy some repair pieces, i.e. screens, bags, etc. I like mine alot and use it regularly but still prefer my Roor bong for quick, daily smoking......