fwiw .. I suspect that peoples' views of a zoji and of rice makers generally depends on what rice they eat most of. If it's Thai or Chinese or sticky rice then I think they can all be much of a muchness .... however pillau rice I find there's a real difference with the zoji and pretty much everything else I've tried or tasted. Mine is used 70% pillau and 30% everything else. I wouldn't swap it.