Hello again. Replying in point form for best efficiency:
Hi there Fresh Coffee. Thank you for your thoughtful round up. Distinctions you made are sharp.
You're welcome

Follow-up question:
Do you (or anyone reading this) know anything about Bosco brand?
They say their machines are hand built, to order.
I realise now that in some way all these machines are 'hand built' to order....
I was trying to compare the 2 group La Pavoni and the Bosco. But I have run into a dead end.Bosco is small manufacturer in the south of Italy, and you took the words right out of my mouth. All machines are hand built, by people, on moving work benches or conveyor production line, irrespective of brand !

(Ill put up some photos at a later time as it is most interesting). More so Lever machines for all producers because for the most part they are not really a "stock" item and you have to stop a run of production of modern conventional type machines, to build a couple of special order machines !
The market leader in commercial lever machines is La San Marco, where almost all production goes to the south of Italy, where lever machines just "stuck" while everywhere else they went to modern electro mechanical and electronic machines. Its also possible the reason they "stuck" could be due to "suitability(?)" for the particular style of espresso they make in the south of Italy, but that is just conjecture on my part.
Just be aware that in terms of what I write....I wear a "commercial" hat with little emotional influence (the machines are workhorses end of story) and in terms of giving you an opinion on a comparison between a La Pav and Bosco, I would have to say they both make coffee and will be subject to the usual caveat that the operator is in control. The differences internally may well be major, but externally they will be cosmetic, and they both make coffee out the front and the operator would have to learn his way around that (as with any machine). What you really need to know is how reliable they are in service and over time, and I cant answer that.
The problem with buying lever machines is as already mentioned, that you may have to wait for a special order depending on who you deal with.
And I will have to firmly declare a commercial interest here and now. My advice is always to buy locally but now that you have mentioned that a machine would have to come from Italy for you before being sent from here to Vietnam, I can advise that my business currently has a 2 group as well as a 3 group Lever machine (New) in the showroom in Canberra right now, ready to go. They are the same manufacturer/brand as the BFC semi commercial machines that many participants in this forum have at home, and can be demonstrated to you on the spot if you are coming back to Oz at any time. The are very reliable....and perform well and as they are designed to. There are no reviews, and you have to rely on taking a look yourself or trusting the commercial supplier on his word.
Hope that helps.