Hi Aggie_Amma ... Can you tell from the above posts I'm the Polar F6 pink watch "beat-to-death & fix-er-back-up" queen?

I really had a hard time choking over that amount of $ for it too. But, despite all the trial and errors, I am really glad I did (I think these things could happen with any brand, IMHO). I guess since I sunk a lot of $ into it (for me), I was determined to trouble shoot it. It's still kicking strong (think I bought it start of 2006).

The only thing I have not truly done, and actually am preparing to do so, is swim in it. I have a tri friend that swims with her HRM on. I don't know which one she owns. This is why the battery replacement procedure was important to me. I guess there is a rubber seal inside the watch. If this seal is not "just so" in putting the watch back together post battery change... it could get leakage and damage.

Not always does my back light pop right up... but I'm still lazy about cleaning. The greatest thing about that is no buttons to push (if the model hasn't been revamped). You are mtb, road riding, spinning, whatever... alll you need to do is bring it right up to the chest strap.

The t31 chest strap is coded which is nice too. The other gals in spin class whose watches are not the coded version of mine will cross talk with my watch... but not vice versa. I'm the queen bee leading the pack cuz my readings are locked in to not cross talk. Sometimes the teacher will just suggest the person next to me switch wrist for the class. That cures it. You could have that problem on the road also if riding two abreast closely, fwiw.

Bottom line... I'm glad I own it. Hope this mini-series of books helps your decision lol.