We have one with a fan. It's an older model that uses inside air and does not have a secondary combustion chamber or catalytic converter. WE LOVE IT! Stoke it up and you have to open the windows and sit outside. In the event of a power outage, it has a shelf that you can place pots on for cooking. We keep a cast iron dutch oven on it full of water to act as a humidifier. The water will quickly come to a boil.
The modern inserts are even more efficient! We are thinking about putting a wood burning stove in the basement and if we do, it will be a free standing modern one.
Modern inserts and free standing stoves are very efficient and I would encourage you to spend the money on a modern one. The units with catalytic converters are a little more efficient that those with secondary combustion chambers but the catalytic converters require more maintenance. Consider a modern unit having a secondary combustion chamber that is feed with outside air.
“In the event of a power outage, it has a shelf that you can place pots on for cooking. We keep a cast iron dutch oven on it full of water to act as a humidifier. The water will quickly come to a boil.”
That must come in handy, and you could even put a can of soup to heat on the shelf.