I use a $10 rice cooker (made in Thailand) and am quite happy with its performance. As stated the (much) more expensive models don't cook regular rice such as basmati any better, rather they do more (e.g. keep it warm for long periods while tasting fresh). Sometimes I still cook rice in a pot (when I want it seared in oil first, before cooking, for example), but the rice cooker is great as it takes no skill, no effort and no care (just turn it on and forget it). I'm a food snob and geek and love rice, so gadgets are my life blood, but a $1000 rice cooker would be the 50th appliance that I'd buy. Personally I don't find a cooker that keeps food warm for hours appealing (except my slow cooker which does that superbly), nor do I want it turning on and off under computer control, or by using a remote that also does my TV. Technology can run amuck, esp. in the kitchen.