[m463]

We used to have a bread machine years ago.

The best part was the smell of freshly baked bread.

The part I didn't like was the big hole in the loaf where the bread mixing paddle thing was. Has that been solved?

[jacknews]

Indeed, we usually program it to be ready by morning - so we wake to the smell of fresh-baked bread, it really fills the house - no need for an alarm!

The paddles thing hasn't been solved AFAIK, I think they'd have be lowered and raised from the lid, rather than retracting through the waterproof pan. But anyway, with a dual-paddle machine, it's not such a big deal.