It's a beautiful and solid appliance.
The plates are easy to remove, but they're not dishwasher-safe. That was what Blue wrote about coolly, and it influenced my choice.
The surface is large, but not wider than usual. So you can only make two toasted sandwiches, because it's not deep enough for a double layer.
The temperature is a bit disappointing. It gets quite hot when it first starts, but it doesn't stay hot enough afterward, meaning the toasted sandwiches have to sit for a very long time before they brown properly.
I also tested it as a table-top grill for grilling small pieces of meat alla minute. It's very slow. The vegetables were already gone before the first chicken pieces and hamburgers were cooked through. Good to know for Christmas...
By making the top handle so large, it's well-supported when you open it 180°. The racks then slope slightly toward the center (toward the drip tray). But because of the high handle, it also takes up more space when stored on a shelf. It also can't be stored upright.
The grill rack position works, but it's not free-floating. The top plate is pulled downward by the rear cable, which tends to tilt upwards rather than floating horizontally above the others.
All in all, a good appliance, but it could have produced a bit more heat.