I spent an outrageous $200 on this baby in 2003, but I have no hesitation that it was all well-spent. I have always depended on dryers to give volume to my fine hair, but found that they always dried out my hair (so I couldn't use consistently) and burnt out within a year of use. (I was buying $20-$30 Conairs, etc.)
I purchased this after hearing all of the hype about ionic technology being healthier for hair and smoothing the cuticle, as well as the decreased drying time. I found both of these claims to be true. In fact, I think my hair feels smoother after blowdrying with this dryer than after air-drying alone. When I do blowdry, I allow my hair to dry half-way naturally (takes about 10 minutes) and then blowdry the rest (takes about 5 minutes more).
The added bonus of this dryer is that it actually lasts! I have never owned a dryer this long in my life. It has already nearly paid for itself, seeing as after 5 years of $30 dryers, i would have paid $150 anyway.
I will definitely be returning to CHI ionic dryers if this one does ever need replacing (have no idea when that will be!), though I know there are now other newer models out there that I will probably try out instead.