Drew, I just read a post that Monte posted on another topic and stole a sentence out of it. I feel this best answers why I like the Core;

"Certain makes and models just 'click' and we have a useful want for them or specific need for them, and it might be different from what someone else happens to like."

Although the Core is on the more "basic" side compared to other machines, it just works well for me. It "clicks" most my buttons

It balances very well, it runs on 4 alkaline batteries ( or rechargeable AA batteries) Nokta/Makro going forward has started this waterproof every machine craze, which I dislike. I don't need or desire a waterproof machine, but for them to make those, it requires additional weight in the waterproofing, everything is jammed in the control housing battery included. All the weight is at your grip point and forwards causing their machines to be more nose-heavy than needs to be.

Everything has to be plugged in at the control housing and or adapters are needed if using say my Pro Stars headphones etc. I like my batteries under the arm cup as well as plugging my headphones in that area as well. They haven't build a machine after (or before) the CoRe that can outperform it with the small coil so there is no interest for me in their latest offerings.

I have stocked away several Racer 2's and Fors CoRe's to get me well into the future. They work great today and I'm sure they will work just as well in the future

Maybe someday if Nokta wants to build a good "normal" landbased machine and maybe put it in a nice physical package kinda like a Vanquish machine and give me the performance my CoRe has out fighting the dense iron site ....and add iron audio volume, I will take a look. Until then I am about done with Nokta/Makro. I got what I needed from them and they aren't making anything now that piques my interest.

The only suggestion I can give is if the Core has ya curious, get one and try it. You can prob get a good used one at a decent price now. Then you will form your own opinion rather you like the machine or not........and that is the one that really counts

CoRe
Relic
Racers