Kitchenaid mixers....

First, I do think KitchenAid mixers are worth the money. My new one is 25 years old and I've never had a bit of trouble with it. My old one was picked up at an estate sale for twelve dollars and it lasted a good seven or eight years till I got a new one. I then gave it to a friend who used it for another 3 years till it decided it only had one speed--high. When she tried to get if fixed at the KitchenAid repair center, they refused to even try since it was over 45 years old.
I also have some of the attachments and I particularly like the grinder.

Second. Stacey--how do you keep the pasta from sticking together as it comes out of the extrusion plates. I've only tried it once, and it was a mess.

Third, I have the KitchenAid hand mixer and again have had no problems with that either. I used to replace hand mixers about every 6 or 7 years. I've had my hand one since they first came out -maybe 9 or 10 years.