iscariot, thanks for the information.
PATT, thanks for the suggestion. The wife really likes the PL041, and we've upped the budget a bit since I'll likely be using it as much as her. Any idea how difficult parts are to come by? Somewhat concerning that they're the only place in the US that carries Le'Lit.
Here's where I'm stuck. Everybody says a burr grinder is a must with a machine like the PL041, but it's not in the budget right now. Can I not order the "optimal" grind from somebody like Intelligentsia or Lavazza? I assume those fuckers know how to properly grind beans. Not ideal, but at least a solution until we can sport for a burr grinder.