I can offer no insight into the pre 2020 insert as this is my first wood burning appliance. I did a self install, to include removing the tile liner, adding an insulated liner, top cap and new chimney crown. Added block off plate, insulated the back of the exterior masonry fireplace, and then installed the Princess Insert.
Currently running 24/7 since Nov 4 here in the Mid Atlantic states, not far from Trenton NJ.
Pros: There has been no smoke rollout, no smoke smell in the house, no odor whatsoever. I have really strong draft on my 30' liner so virtually everything goes up the flue, to include fly ash when opening the door.
I get at a minimum 12 hour burns, reloading around 8:00am and 8:00pm. Depending on outside temp the insert will keep the main family room and open kitchen 74, rest of 1st floor 68, upstairs not so good. I have a traditional colonial house am using fans to move the air but not much gets into the 2nd floor. That is my floor plan issue, not the insert. House is probably not that tight, when I use the IR gun on the ceiling above the unit it reads 84. Seven feet away on the flat exterior wall it reads 66. I loose lots of heat to the envelope due to sub-par insulation (circa 1983 construction with aluminum siding).
I have been burning mostly cherry with some ash and a little hard maple. Never an issue on hot restarts, always sufficient coals to relight.
Combustor is easy to take off, on a cold start it is less than 15 min to reach active state.
Part that sticks out from the face does radiate heat, I have run the fan all the time however and there have been no power outages. SIL likes the country look of the unit, my wife is not a fan of the smaller glass. Have never had the unit get above 640 on the top with the IR gun, still shy about over-firing although I know that is almost impossible. So can address peak heat output yet (and we have not had a real cold spell yet).
Unit is very responsive to the thermostat. If I turn it to low in one twist, the fire dies out in about 10 sec or less. Turning from low to high the fire will engage in about 30 sec (depending on remaining wood or coals), but heat does increase pretty quick. Ash lip catches the wood droppings, nice design.
Cons: Fan is sort of loud, like a microwave, but has not interfered with the TV or music. I do wish the CFM from the fan was more, it blows mostly from the left side out the top, does not pull much cold air from the right side which is where the thermostat is.
Unit was heavy to install. I used an engine hoist to move it around the house and raise it up to the hearth level. Difficult for one person to move by themselves.
With a stronger fan I feel like I could get deeper heat penetration into the house, but I may be mistaken.
Overall I am extremely satisfied, and would recommend this product to anyone. It seems bullet proof to run, the heat is very soft and steady, but most importantly, the unit needs no babysitting. I load, close bypass when active, set thermostat and walk away for 12 hours. For the first 2 months of use my electric savings were about 30%, cant say for the back up propane since I have not had a delivery. I figure in the range of $400 in savings so far this winter in propane, so I am looking at a 2.5 year recapture.
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