Wow... great machines. Will you get to play with them prior to purchase or is it an internet ‘click and pray’ arrangement?

JM73, I think you have already answered your question in the last sentence.

If you have bad water, then steer clear of most those machines, especially LM or anything with stainless parts as these will not last unless you are an expert in controlling the water pH and you install multiple filter systems.

Sub-standard water = expensive service and repairs full stop. No buts or maybe's - it's the cause of most failures on espresso equipment.

In this regard, stick with an Expobar if your local techs have access to parts and expertise. The return on investment and reliability should be your #1 priority, then followed by features. Forget brand reputation or "promise" - means nothing. Machines are only as good as the nut behind the wheel.

If you are planning on running a machine in a cafe and likely to experience "busy" periods, even if it's only a few times a day, then go with traditional style machines, otherwise stability and recovery are going to result in greater inconsistency.