The reason I have had a lifelong hatred of rice is because I have never once tasted it prepared properly--not even by my Korean-born and raised friends. My husband wanted that particular rice cooker for Christmas and when I ordered it for him, I thought it was kind of a waste of money...NOT AT ALL!!! We almost never used to have rice--not just because of my strong aversion to the taste but clean-up is a pain in the butt. This rice cooker is completely idiot proof (IOW, Grellis-proof)--perfect rice, every time, and cleans up in under a minute. It wasn't really expensive, around $65, considering how often we have rice now. I love the thing. I would have paid twice as much for it and I am cheap!
You aren't cheap, you are thrifty. At least that's the way I view myself, the Thrift Shop Denizen.
I make rice at least three times a week. Spanish rice, fried rice, etc. I don't know what the elevation is where you are in Michigan, but I know I have had to cut back on the water here in Oklahoma since we are nearly at sea level. (Ironically, I just made a pan of rice.)
Considering all the ringing endorsements on this thread for rice-makers, I'll look into them!