Agreed!
Have been using a $50 bread machine for 12 years, only replaced a lost paddle for a few $, and we have fresh bread without preservatives 2x/week.
Just discovered no-knead bread here:
https://www.jennycancook.com/no-dutch-oven-this-no-knead-bread-is-for-you/
A relative gave me her BF's opened but unused machine last month. With the Hensperger book.
He read the manual's recipes, and making a depression for the yeast was too much trouble.
Seriously.