We currently run a weird offshoot of a centurian, and i prefer the way it runs much more than the little gauntlet we have.
We've spent alot of time (i.e. money), on our Xpress, and it holds registration like a champ. From what i understand, as many of you have pointed out as well, these machines are beasts, but like any auto, if they are not cared for, the quality deteriorates.
With that being said, I'd 100% pay the extra money to have a press that the heads go down, instead of the tables being set up.