Chase -- The hose did not come with the handle attached. I had to swap the handle and all of the parts inside of the handle. I did order new handle halves, as the ones on the hose which came with the machine were cracked/broken.
The 12' hose without the handle attached was $94 bucks... vs. the one in the link above which is $146, complete with handle. It wasn't the easiest handle to swap over, but I've certainly encountered ones that are more difficult. I may buy all of the parts to put a trigger-handle on my hose, that seems like a smart idea.
I don't think I want to mess around with an Aqua Mate. I have a Hoover SteamVac that has suited me well for years. I don't want to have to hook something up to the sink and deal with that. I might get the squeegee eventually, but I have a Haan steamer that does an incredible job on the floors.
I did put a few drops of "clean air" into the tank, but didn't really smell it while I was using the vacuum. I probably should have used more. Next time.
The water was pretty black. I should have probably emptied and refilled halfway through. Next time.
I may replace some parts on the powerhead, motor included. It just doesn't sound very healthy. I'm also curious to try the aftermarket agitator with all bristles. I may also need to adjust the gasket on the bottom plate. The old one was dried out and crumbled when it went through the dishwasher. I had put some closed-cell foam back in its place, but might not have it seated exactly where it needs to be.
I may also at some point get the larger water basin. But that's low on the priority list. More stuff to store. I still haven't figured out where this one is going to live. All of those hoses and wants.. It's a lot to keep in one place. I need the hanger to mount on the back of a door.
The collection is getting pretty full -- I'm going to have to part way with some machines soon... Just not enough room for all of them!