craftgrrl | Your Story book binder? (Reply)

Does anyone here own one of these machines? Oh My Crafts has a pretty good deal on them and accessories but I had a few questions and wanted "real people" answers instead of reviews written by anonymous people on google's search.

* how long does that machine last? Meaning- how many books and how many laminations can I do before it dies?

* how many pages of regular paper (NOT laminated) can each regular-sized book hold (portrait, 8"by11")?

Anything you would like to add? Rants or raves?

The reason I am asking is I write fanfic... so OFCOURSE no publisher is going to touch my stories with a ten foot pole, nevermind that I don't want to sell them. I just want my fanfics in book form for me to keep forever. AND a second copy to give as a present to my co-writer. But we'd like a nice looking book instead of something that Kinkos had their way with... not to mention the fic is rated NC17 so I'd really prefer to handle the "publishing" myself anyway.

* if you wouldn't recommend the You Story for my needs... what WOULD you recommend?

edit- yes, i have considered handbinding. I joined the handbinding LJ comm a few weeks ago, too. But right now i simply have too much going on to really dedicate to learning how to bind myself. Thus, when I saw that machine on tv I was very interested!