I like the Echo too. I have lifted them at the Home Depot rental department and the Stihl's at the dealers. The handle location on the Echo is much better in my opinion because all of these pruners seem top heavy and theirs (Echo) is easier to control.

Before buying one, I am going to rent one for a day unless I can find a used one cheap. So far, no luck with that. Home Depot does sell their rental units from time to time and that might be a good source for a used one.

I would also look for one that can handle the extensions that are available because being limited to 7-8 feet might not be enough sometimes.

Get that trimmer and a weed cutter line head you be in good shape for along time mark bottom of limbs first they fall straight down no hinging (mark meaning cut under cut first).