Well there will always be portable propane heaters available for emergencies, but I am planning for this when we get to building our house. Right now we have gas baseboard heat in the apartment, but when we get the house I plan to have a generator to fit my needs, as well as a propane source, ya know? I just really like the benefits this wall unit appears to have for everyday use. I agree, there really doesn't seem to be much of anything to break or fail on these units, but longevity is another query of mine. An appliance can work wonderfully for the first year, but if they have to be replaced every few years, what's the point? Of course, less than $150 per unit, really isn't that much...
Maybe I'll order a plug-in unit for the apartment and see how we like it. I love the cool-touch deal a lot.