Listen to Larry.
And if you are going to get a Vario, it should be your non-espresso grinder, not your espresso grinder.
Susan's sense
Guess I did it
backwards. Based on advice from Tex (miss him!), I bought a Baratza Vario and Gaggia Classic in 2010. Still have both of them!
Qualifier: I have not used a Vario. But the sentiment I hear most often is what Eric wrote, that it can be difficult to dial in when things change, like type of coffee or the humidity. Someone who buys my espresso blend struggles with hers, and even though Baratza has been great when she had to send it back, it's still a hassle.
No doubt there are many, many more satisfied users of the Vario than not. It makes me wonder if part of the equation is which espresso machine they get paired with - that could be an important consideration. No doubt the PVL is very forgiving and has a large sweet spot. My customer has a Sylvia and it may be more picky as to what she feeds it.
Peter, I think you hit the nail on the head!
I have used the Baratza Vario with a PVL and a Gaggia Classic. With the Gaggia, I was constantly fiddling with the adjustment on the Vario to produce decent espresso.
I was really surprised that I NEVER had to do that with the PVL. Now I only use the PVL, and the Gaggia is collecting dust ... but I did have to buy a Capresso grinder for drip coffee.