My sister has one and she loves it. Yes they perform as claimed. Are they worth the cost? IMHO NO! Even Dyson vacs are too costly and there are lower cost models that perform equally well, just differently. I have a very old rebuilt Electrolux that will smkoke the pants off any Dyson or Rainbow--- been proven infront of the salesmen more than once. It picked up left behind debris from the Rainbow and earned me $25 for proving their product isn't superior afterall. The thing with these uber, esoteric vacuums is they market a specific twist or feature of them. Kirby is another wallet robbing brand. Very sturdy construction but who needs to have their vacuum cleaner double as a paint sprayer, carpet shampooer, mattress inflator, etc? I buy specifically designed products to accomplish specific tasks, rather than a brand that claims to be a jack of all trades and master of none. It's like the Shop Smith tool... multiple power tools in one package. Lots of time to set up and tear down with expected average results. Dedicated tools perform somewhat better and offer features designed specifically to enhance that product. Those Kirby and Rainbows units dont easily access tight areas either... same for the Dyson. Then you have to screw around with attachments or a portable vacuum cleaner to finish the job ---- NOT GOOD!
For a $2500 vacuum cleaner, you could pay a housemaid for a long time to clean the home for you!
Below is that old Elextrolux --- unbelievable how this old puppy performs using old design and methods and carries a lifetime warranty!!