Which is better, Dyson or Kirby? Got any spare pocket change? The Kirby will grind the pennies like you had dropped them in the garbage disposal. The Kirby is inconvenient to use - no on-board hose. And all the dirt passes over the belt. You have to understand that NORMAL people (non collectors) are going to be the real judges, not us collectors. Normal consumers want an on board hose, they don't want to drive somewhere to spend money on bags (money thrown into the trash can - think of the $5 bill a Miele bag costs - are you really going to throw away a five dollar bill?) And then there's the belt issue. The Kirby is no more than it was 75 years ago. The Dyson is built to be what modern consumers want in a vacuum. Obviously, if you gave both to a test group of 10 women, all 10 would prefer the Dyson over the Kirby as it's easier to use, easier to maintain, and faster to clean with. Does that make it better? No. But it makes it better in the minds of the average consumer.
