Thanks, Rob! I'll swing by the vac store and pick up the wands today. I still may end up buying a whole new hose because the top handle on the Ultra hose is gigantic. Overall, i want something lighter and smaller...and since i only paid $300 for this vacuum, I've got some money to burn to...
A lot of thinking and $300 later, I decided to go with the Guardian Ultra.
The Platinum was really beat up, dented, dusty, and heavily used by a family of 5 + a mountain dog. The Ultra was in excellent condition and the owner didn't know what she had. She knew she liked her kenmore better...
I've been reading as much as I can on the Aerus Guardian Ultra & Aerus Guardian Platinum vacuums. I found both on craigslist and will soon go check them out to make a final decision.
The Ultra, from pictures, looks in great condition, however I haven't gotten the seller on the phone to gauge...