Don't be too quick to bash the stick!! You can just about train a monkey to run a squirt gun, but to really learn to weld, you should start with a torch, move to the stick, and then on to the squirt gun. When I got certified, they wouldn't even let us touch the wire feed until we certified with the stick. Reason being, the stick really teaches you how to manage the puddle and understand what the metal is going to do with the heat applied. The torch even more so. I use my wire feed quite a bit, but I still like the buzz box. Since my wire feed is only a 110V unit, I always resort to the stick for anything heavier than 1/8". I've never been too good overhead, but it's really just a practice thing. I don't spend the time welding I used to, so things aren't as pretty as they used to be, but I still really like my stick welder.