Kirby makes a good product. Upside: it cleans quite well, comes with a good array of attachments and accessories, and is quite sturdy--could likely last for decades. Downside: it's ungodly expensive (probably well over $1,000 US), quite heavy, and a little bulky for some applications. It uses paper bags which go inside a zippered cloth bag, are also sturdy , and last a fair while. For the carpet cleaning head (w/ rotating brush) there is a drive belt that needs to be replaced occasionally, fairly easy to do, costs a few dollars. You could probably get a reconditioned one at a Kirby store, or maybe any vacuum cleaner specialty store, save some money.

My wife now wants an Orick (sp?), because that 8 pound weight sounds great compared to the Kirby. I read somewhere that the demo where it holds up a bowling ball doesn't really mean anything because the amount of airflow is at least as important as the suction, but I don't really know anything about them.

Some possible info resources are hotels/motels, airports, office buildings, churches, etc.--anywhere where they do a lot of vacuuming. The maintenance department head should know. Also check with house-cleaning and office-cleaning services and see what they think. Hope this helps.