Interesting coming from a different backround and use. I find the opposite on some things.
Steaming I’ve found hard to get the silkiest of milk unless compromising workflow efficiency, as I’m either steaming less milk than Charlie or more (for two). Steam tip I find too strong for 100 mL unless dropping steam temp/pressure right down - where then it hasn’t the endurance to handle wand purges/refills without waiting for recovery. Blocking a hole has worked wonders though for 100 mL so will find a second tip.
I was surprised how light the machine was, both in weight and lower lever force, but came from a Valexia. I feel Antonio’s nailed the weight formula here for a lever.
I don’t get the soggy pucks shown - possibly because of the filter paper I use on top keeping things together. There will be sometimes water on top that I tip into the drip tray, but the puck pops out pretty cleanly. And if I leave it until I’ve finished cleaning everything else, no water on top and a very clean ejection.
Do agree on the pressure relief paddle - I sometimes find myself having to cut the steam at the same time as the extraction and one will suffer as a result of having insufficient hands. Tried fish hooking the paddle with my nose but it hurt too much. Looked for a toggle version of the momentary microswitch used thinking it’d be better to pull once to open pressure relief, pull again to close - but didn’t exist and I could imagine forgetting to close it anyway. Current solution is to move the steam joystick up instead of down to steam so I can headbutt it down when finished, if required.