Been slow here for a while, so I'll post my latest toy. I have no idea why this particular tool is so expensive... this and the stupid jigsaw. Made in Japan, maybe. It was hard to justify the cost, especially since the Ego 56V can be purchased for much less with the battery and charger, but I was reluctant to introduce another charger on my already crowded shelf. In any case, I have had my eye on this ever since its debut, and for a short period it dropped below $250 shipped on Amazon, so I jumped on it. Very well balanced - the only negative so far is that my clothes keep getting stuck on the intake, though I do admit they are somewhat baggy. There is just so much air moving in and out, it's really quite amazing.