Tjyven I’m a 100% straight espresso drinker so steaming is not important and I have still have my E61 machine with steaming capabilities and I use that when guests are here (it is also faster to pump out back to back drinks than the Stietman).
That said, the most important thing for me in a Lever (after having a few) is group head temperature stability. For example, I like my Falir Signature Pro that I use for travel maybe four time a year but I would not want it for my home machine because flaffing around getting the group head to the right temperature is a bit of pain. Likewise the Portapresso I own. I am not a fan of the La Pavoni that I owned either because even thought the group head was heated the temperature was anything but stable, I really had to get it at the right time or manipultate it. And thats what I would be careful about if ordering a cheaper copy of the Strietman. I buy a lot from AliExpress so I’m not against cheaper Chinese copies as such, it’s just that when it comes to espresso machines “it’s complicated” as they say, to get so many important factors such as group head temperature accuracy and stability spot on.