it breaks down like this... a lot of people own one, a lot of people say they're great but very few people actually use them
Well, not really. Not at all. Most people don't use most equipment and end up selling; weights, bowflex, total gym, nordictrak, etc. Nothing to do with effectiveness.
gh15 knows more than most here. As he said a long while ago, get a bowflex and some adjustable dumbbells and get to work. It ain't that complicated guys.