The general consensus on the Blenderized Diet forums and internet boards as well my own personal experience is that the Vitamix blender simply works better than any other blender.
The motor is more powerful, the blades are sharper, it's simply the best of the best. Even Consumer Reports says so.
However, it's expensive (although about $300 with a medical discount) and other blenders do work well for many people.
It's like cars, my Hyundai Excel zips down the highway and works just fine for me - it's like the regular blenders. I can not afford a Mercedes Benz or a BMW and that's fine with me. My inexpensive car works fine. But the price difference between a department store blender and the very best one in the world was affordable for me so I splurged on myself. Would I have if I could swallow? Maybe not, but the Vitamix never ever clogs my feeding tube and it pulverizes everything, even the thick steak I did with my son, plus the more usual tofu I do with my wife. I just got back from our trip to San Antonio and I went out and got Chinese take out and dumped it into my Vitamix and smooth as silk down my tube.
Charm