Vita Mix better choice than K-Tec Champ/Blendtec

I researched both machines extensively and waited a few days because there were pro's and cons's to both and I wanted to have the clarity that comes from cool-headed judgment - and bought the Vita Mix 5000. The pro's for the K-Tec unit were more power and a lower height such that it fits below upper cabinets. The power issue was not decisive as the K-Tec, at 2 HP is more than adequate for any kind of smoothie/liquid, including sundried tomatoes and other tough items. I do not do grains or nut butters, and use a food processor and coffee mills for flax seeds and such; I did not buy the Vita Mix's grain carafe, so I cannot comment on that.

The advantages of the Vita Mix over the K-Tec are the manual controls of the VitaMix 5000 provide much better control and are very intuitive. If the food has large chunks, like apples, and greens, I run it on lower variable speeds (using the cleverly designed tamper) until the chunks and greens are broken up to give that convective motion so the high speed blending happens smoothly and quickly. I read several complaints about the 4 (5?) programmed cycles of the K-Tec not giving much control. If the blending is incomplete, you have to run another of the programmed cycles. Maybe the programs are designed to let you walk away, but I can't imagine using these high speed blenders, for about 30 sec at most, and walking away while running them!

The Vita Mix tamper (which K-Tec does not have) is put through the hole in the lid and has a flange such that the lid allows the tamper to get close to, but not touch, the blades. It is very useful to push in greens and fruit chunks in the initial variable speed blending. In fact, as I saw on a raw food video, I don't use the center insert of the blender lid, but just hold my hand over it. When I make a green smoothie, I put in the greens first (especially kale) with the liquid, and blend these thoroughly, then I add the fruit and other items through the hole in the lid (no spattering problem this way). The secure lid only goes on once, in the beginning.

The VitaMix's guarantee (7 years for the one I bought directly from the factory) on everything including the carafe is far superior to the K-Tec's. I believe the K-Tec carafe warranty was (and may still be) only for 1 year!. I have read many posts about mechanical problems with the K-Tec, carafe leaking being the most common followed by gear failing, chewing up the O ring in the blended drink, etc, and unhappiness with the lid. One detailed post mentioned the deeper teeth of the VitaMix gears, and it's overall sturdiness(this reviewer used both machines), and many posts mentioned years of trouble free daily use with the Vita Mix. The reviews clearly indicate a much higher incidence of malfunctions with the K-Tec than the Vita Mix. I prefer the VitaMix's simpler controls and was concerned about failure of the programmed push button functions of the K-Tec; but mostly, I was swayed by the reliability problems with the K-Tec unit.
I have no connection with the manufacturers of either blender.