I had been thinking about getting a SodaStream for a while now since I drink a fair amount of the Safeway Refreshe brand flavored "fizzy waters". But I didn't realize the machine used a proprietary bottle. I usually buy mine in the 4-packs since it is actually cheaper oz-for-oz than the larger single bottles. But I like to take a few 4-packs to work and drink them throughout the day/week. When I'm running low, I bring in another stock. I don't like the idea of always bringing the empty SodaStream bottle(s) home to refill and take back to work the next day. So I'd probably need a dozen or so of their bottles just for work. And while it may be wasteful, I also have the convenience of taking a bottle where I'm going and then just tossing it when I'm done rather than lugging it around until I get home. And if the SodaStream flavors are garbage then I have less desire to get one.

With the SodaStream, I envisioned being able to take the bottles I do buy (and didn't toss) and reuse them for the SoadStream... always knowing that if I wanted to, I didn't have to keep track of the refilled bottle when I was done. Maybe I'm lazy or selfish for not wanting to keep track of an empty, reusable bottle... so be it. But I like the convenience of the option to toss the bottle when I'm done.

I also wish the article had some numbers on life expectancy of the machine. Its all fine and dandy to accept the reality of needing 4yrs for the machine to pay for itself... until you discover that it failed before then.

Based on my expected use pattern (both refilling AND buying new) I doubt my machine would last long enough to break even.