And I laugh as my $100 spent does more than I will ever need and does it perfectly. Find a Vitamix for $100. For now. Just like everything in the kitchen the big difference will be if you use it heavily you will need more than 3 in your lifetime and only on Vmix. Of course if you don't use it much fine. At the same time, if you were using it for other things (which with your diet restrictions I am surprised you aren't) you would find the little guy does leave things lacking. The Vmix completely liquifies things allowing you to make velvety feeling soups out of basically a vegetable and some stock. Hell I even cook mine sometimes right in the blender. Just leave it on high for 5 minutes and the soup is near boiling. Put in strawberries with all the seeds and 20 seconds later it is a smooth liquid. There are definitely things it doesn't do better and it isn't logical for everyone to go out and buy one, but when you need it you need it. Mine regularly makes things like Carrot Ginger soup, Pumpkin soup, Potato soup, smoothies, snow cones, and once a summer frozen drinks. The snow cone is a multi-step process as first I have to make a coulois from some fruit and then shave the ice, but you should see the look on the little ones faces and then realize you are just feeding them fruit Key to a good frozen drink which will somewhat work in a lesser blender is to use NO ice. Just buy a bag (or freeze your own) of frozen strawberries (or other fruit with some liquid content) add booze and pulse. When it's a 100+ they taste great even to the manliest of men.