I come from an Asian family that has used cheaper rice cookers for, well, generations. The white rice is perfect, but frankly many basic rice cookers do fine with white if one preps the rice well (rinsing & soaking). The test on these expensive cookers is the brown rice, which many foodies prefer. This not only makes perfect, fluffy brown rice, but can handle the various additions (coconut, diced veggies, etc) that make an instant pilaf possible. Serving size for our family of 5 is perfect. Probably could handle a family of 6, but not much more.