Product review (3 stars): It's okay... long wash cycle, spin cycle is skipped frequently
I was in wash heaven when I first got this baby, my first front-loading machine. I didn't know my clothes could smell so wonderful, using the same products I was using before (HE friendly). After a year of using the washer and dryer set,I'd say it washes well, but rate it "okay" based on a few annoyances/defects(?):

-Wash times are LONG. We're talking over an hour for a normal load.  When you think about it, on a 7-load day (about right for my family of 5 weekly) - this thing is running for 8 hours nonstop.  I have discovered the "quick wash" cycle which definitely helps and as far as I can tell, it still gets the clothes clean.
-Spin cycle works 90% of the time.  I can make neither rhyme nor reason of this, but about one in every 10 loads I take from the washer is COMPLETELY soaked, as if it missed the spin cycle entirely. It has done this since I got the machine.  I have to do a "quick" (half hour!!!) rinse and spin cycle and that takes care of it, but that brings me to my next annoyance:
-There is no "spin only" cycle.  It's something I could make use of occasionally, but I could REALLY use it when the washer decides to skip its spin cycle entirely!  If I could just throw it back in to spin for a set amount of time, I wouldn't waste another HALF HOUR waiting.
-Clothes get wadded up in each other and tangled.  This is a problem exclusive to front-loaders, I guess? Never had this problem before.  But when I have a load of long sleeved shirts and pants, I find myself untangling them before placing in the dryer.  FYI, the dryer without fail wraps flat sheets around fitted sheets or vice versa, so that the one inside remains quite damp.

For those who have complained about the "smell" - they guy who sold us this set recommended that we thoroughly wipe down the washer inside, especially the seal, after each wash day.  He suggested leaving the door open as well, so that moisture is not sealed in.  We've had NO problems with a funky smell.

In conclusion:  I don't know how much of my annoyance has to do with the fact that it's a front loading machine.  But given the choice- and if we hadn't shelled out a pretty penny for this set- I'd try one of the new top loading, agitator-free machines instead.