I've had a Gene for 6 years now, roasting at least weekly, often 5-6 batches per week, and it's served me quite well. Yes, I've replaced the heating element twice (~$50), but I'd say it's performed quite remarkably. It's been a few years since I bought replacement parts (bought a couple spares last time so of course it'll never die again), so I don't know if they've gotten harder to find since then.