I love the sleek design as it nestles smoothly in the base. The fact that it is all one piece guarantees there are no messy leaks coming from the bottom of the canister. It chopped ice quickly with no jerky hesitations.  It works great for smoothies and a rough chop of vegetables that I used in a soup. Quiet operation too! 
P.S. I am still using the Hamilton Beach 7 speed Scovill blender I received as a shower gift 31 years ago. The only problem is the leaking from the canister bottom. Built to last!