Product review (5 stars): Nice Upgrade
The hoses that came with my washer were marked "replace every 5 years". While few probably pay attention to such things, I know *far* to many who have had hoses leak, or worse, burst when they're not home and cause huge problems. Washing machines used to almost always be in basements, garages, etc. where a water leak might be onto concrete. That can still cause lots of damage to whatever is sitting on the concrete but the house itself is less likely to suffer serious damage.

But the trend in new homes is to put the laundry room near the bedrooms so it's often on the main floor or even upstairs. How much damage do you think might be caused if a hose bursts? It can easily exceed $100,000 in some houses. And the "pan" they sometimes sit under the washer on an upper floor won't catch more than a slow drip in just the right spot. When hoses fail they typically spray water several feet or more in random directions.

Long story short, it's cheap insurance to replace the hoses. And these braided hoses with right angle fittings are a significant upgrade over the plain ones that come with most washers. The right angle helps keep the hose from being kinked (which can make it fail) and reduces the stress on the hose if it's up against a wall (as most are) as the washer vibrates during the spin cycle.

The stainless hoses look nice but are kind of a gimmick in my opinion. The metal braid is just a sleeve over a plain rubber hose and water runs right through it. While it might help keep the hose from bulging and bursting under high pressure, that's not how hoses usually fail. Typically the rubber gets *harder* as it gets older and eventually starts to fatigue or even crack. They don't get softer and bulge out. So a stainless steel hose will probably leak just as easily as a cheap one.

These hoses, however, are different. The braided material is actually PART OF THE HOSE not just a sleeve slipped over the outside. So they're probably quite a bit stronger and less prone to failure than plain hoses. It's like the difference between a $5 garden hose and a $30 garden hose. The more expensive hose has a braided layer bonded into it that greatly prolongs its life.

The bottom line: These hoses are cheap insurance. They also come in a straight (vs 90 degree right angle) version.