gsheen couldnt agree more, bagless isnt for everyone, but neither is bagged? Personally i cant understand why any would want to buy bags, plus i like to see what i have picked up. But thats just me!
The DC17 was probably so bunged up as the seal on the inside of the drum at the bottom of the cyclone had probably being pushed up. So all the dirt is sucked up into the cyclones instead of been spun out of them.
Ive used dysons for years and suction has never been an issue, unless the machine had been used to clean up alot of fine dust like plaster and soot. Wash the filter and away you go
I find most of them (generally the uprights) versatile> they attapt to different homes well. (i used to run a cleaning service)