Should I get a bread maker again?

[Meercat2]

I had a bread maker about 12 years ago. I used it probably 5 times and then after a few years got rid of it as it just sat gathering dust.
I thought it tasted weird and artificial and didn't like the way the stirring paddles left a hole in the bread.
I keep seeing posts on here about how some people love them and am wondering if they have evolved and got better since.
Having read some reviews it looks like the Panasonic is a good bet.
£100+ is a fair amount of money to spend if I'm still faced with the same issues. So, please tell me your experiences.

No.

Just make it by hand. It doesn’t take that much longer and tastes so much better.

I have the Panasonic and have used it 3/4 times a week since we got it several years ago. I don't remember the last time we bought bread. I don't think it makes it taste artificial but I get what you mean with the hole from the paddle. It doesn't really bother us anymore no though, we just try to make the slices around it. We use it a lot to make dough for rolls and pizza bases. I've also found that the bread doesn't go mouldy like shop bought bread, it just goes stale which is fine for blitzing up into breadcrumbs or croutons which last in the cupboard for weeks. Only a few times have I used it to make jam but wasn't that impressed, I can make better in a pan. I wouldn't be without my breadmaker now.

Well that's conflicting😀
Does anyone by age a machine with retractable paddles?

I use mine all the time. Much easier than by hand. I usually set mine on a timer so we get up to fresh bread.
Panasonic here too. I barely notice the bit where the paddle goes.

See, I like baking by hand but really like the idea of getting up in the morning to fresh bread

When bread makers were trendy some of them went out of their way to be quick, and used this as a selling point, but this does not give a good result.

My DPs have a Panasonic and the bread they make is amazing. We’re going to get one too now.

LowbrowVictoriana the quick bread making really makes sense. I'm sure my previous model only took an hour or so.
I'm more and more convinced to getting one now