It is even harder for the little guy to get justice in the courts if they are wrong. I don't know much about that case, except that both you and he reported that he lost, and that the case wasn't worth appealing.
 
Your memory regarding the Ionic Breeze is at least partially correct. My father does own one, and he is, or was, happy with it, but I certainly never bought it, nor have I ever had anything positive to say about it. I did buy an Ionic Air Cleaner once, about 25 years ago, from a company called "DAK", later famous for their popularizing the home bread machine. That tiny cleaner must have provided some cleaning, because what it did do was to cause dirt particles in the vacinity of the machine to stick to the wall, leaving a black spot on the wall. After using it awhile, it became apparent it didn't do anything useful, however, so I ceased using it. It was about 8 inches tall, and here's a picture of it:
http://www.dak.com/images/newproducts/airionizeryellow.gif
 
As for the airwatts, the 220 watt number for the DC21 is very low. Most canisters are at least 375 airwatts, and some are over 400. I don't think a product with only 220 airwatts will be competitive.

I don't think its a given at all. For example, the DC11 I believe had 330 Airwats, a number comparable to many other canisters, and significantly more than most bagged canisters would produce with a full bag. The DC11 clearly shows that a 2-stage cyclonic system can be designed that doesn't use up excessive power. It is interesting to watch as the airwatts continue to drop in each sucessive generation, rather than improving. Part of it, I presume, is that the fan motor size is reduced to allow for a power head. That would account for the loss of perhaps 50 Airwatts, so a drop to 280 Airwatts wouldn't have surprised me. The drop all the way to 220 Airwatts is a surprise, though. What did Dyson gain in exchange for those airwatts? Quietness? Size? Weight? Noise?

It did? I must have written the number down wrong. Sorry about that. Is my number of 270 correct for the DC07? Again, that's a respectable number for an upright, if correct.

Quote from mmc on 04/13/07 at 1:31pm:

 
The DC11 is no longer on the US Web site.  No longer in the US.  On the UK site, dyson says the DC11 has 275 Air-watts.  Not 220.  Not that I'm saying you are lying Matt, but before I believe the 220 number, I would have to see an authoritative source even a dyson one if you have it.
 
Carmine D.

Quote from Carmine_Difazio on 04/13/07 at 2:59pm:

 
A machine from the UK will always have more Airwatts/power than a comparable machine here.  It has to do with power supply and how machines are made for about twice as much electricity that is flowing into it.