💯 never have i ever worried about the precise speed.

Yeah, this is what makes me nervous too. I prefer to keep things dumb and rock solid where it makes sense to do so.

We currently have the bigger 6 quart mixer and are considering downgrading to the artisan for space reasons. I’m thinking I’d probably still opt for the older model.

While I get the broader point

don't fix what isn't broken

I'd generally trust a solid-state system to outlast a mechanical system, if your concern is longevity. Mechanical parts wear. Microcontrollers just kinda keep on going.

EDIT: I'd add, though, that I haven't had a problem with the Kitchenaid blender that I use, whereas I've killed a few prior blenders of other brands, so I'm already not super concerned about Kitchenaid appliances just up and dying.

This would be so much more repairable as a potentiometer-opamp pair or similar depending on how it works.

My old kitchenaid mixer is a little finicky. If I remember right, there's 3 screws you need to adjust to get the speed right, and they need to be balanced otherwise it's really inefficient and noisy. It might be user error, but mine is definitely weirdly noisy and not quite working right.

It looks like they did fix my one complaint on the original and that's the tool attachment often "sticks" making it difficult to swap from, say, the dough hook to the paddle.

Original attachments:

New attachments:

How to "un-stick" an attachment:

https://youtube.com/shorts/OeLwL7UQ-7g

Take an old one with a damaged motor and hack in a vfd. It'll be more precise and a decent vfd will last about as long as the rest of the mechanical components.

I can smell the enshitification.