We just got a new Frigidaire a couple of months ago and I could not be happier with it. It has the food disposal in the bottom that prevents clogging. It is stainless still, quite pretty, I think, and it was in the $500 range. I don't know about the hard water issue, though, Tracey. Not a problem I have encountered. We were about to pay $200 more for a Kitchen Aid with the same features, then saw the Frigidaire, which was exactly the same, just less expensive.