I own a SOM2 and of course there are pros and cons.
PRO
Can hit very hard, can't imagine you would need a stronger machine
If your creative you can turn almost any thing into a effector. (More later)
PC software can deliver a very realistic punishment, especially with Automator
PC software can be controlled by a remote dom. Not just for self spanking
Unit is durable.
CONS
The base without spank bench, tends to move, you have to weight it down or fasten it.
Takes a bit of work to get it adjusted if you like to try a lot of different positions
Hand control is good, but PC software v makes it great. ( adds cost)
Unit is expensive, especially if you add all the upgrades.
I have been self-spanking since I was a child. My fetish is extreme. Dreamed for year's about a self-spanking machine because I lived where it was very difficult to find partners. Sure you can visit a Pro but at $300/hour the SOM2 pays for itself. Even if you visit a Dom once a month the SOM2 with all bells and whistles comes out ahead. If you are at all handy, you can come up with your spanking bench on the cheep. One idea is a 4 point restraint on the bed with an ice lock. But keep in mind the SOM takes up a lot of room, and if you can't keep it set up all the time, packing it away will be a chore. I have a room I keep locked as my own personal dungeon. I don't think you would be able to use this in a apartment. I have 2 gallon compressor I bought at Harbor Freight for around $100. But I run the hose into another room, so the compressor sound does not distract.
I also use my own effectors, some I purchased from Cane-i-ac.com, some I've made. Hard to explain but you can make a strap work if you add a stiffener. My go to effector though is a 2x24x1/4 stick you can get a home depot for 2 bucks. I extend the striker with a 3/8x3/8 square dowel. These are held in place with hose clamps. Works very well and effector can be changed out quickly. Canes also work but they cannot be too whippy. The acceleration of the striker is so quick that the tip of the came has barely moved before the striker has finished it's travel. Depending on the came it will either break or wrap at higher power. 1/4 inch Delrin cane will wrap and draw blood. Not what I am looking for.
I like to use an ottoman as a spanking bench for a somewhat OTK experience. Or a workbench from Costco for a bent-over scene. If you have the money I would just get the SOM2 with the attached bench. But then you are kinda locked into one position. I've also made a system where I use a winch from Harbor Freight to tie my hands above my head with my feet shackled to a spot on the floor. My point is that having options for more positions is nice. If you add the PC software, and figure out a self-bondage lock, you can probably get the most realistic scene, you can get without a partner.
Power; Let's talk power, I run my compressor at about 90, you can go up to 150. I am usually at a power setting of 3, where it starts to feel like a real spanking. I have not gone past 5. I have the cheap Robo spanker from the EU, it is a child's toy, the other RoboSpanker cannot paddle me hard enough. Tried it at a show. Only the SOM can truly do a spanking justice. If you are one of the types that want to be beaten like Singapore-style canning, this machine can deliver. The only thing that could make this machine better is having two, so you could get it from both sides. also, keep in mind, a partner could adjust if your backside is being damaged in a certain spot and avoid that, a machine will not. But for all of us that cannot seem to find a partner well I cannot say enough how much this machine fulfills my expectations of an almost perfect spanking machine. Unless you wanted to spend 10k on an industrial robot, and go to school for a couple of years to learn how to program it, Might be a fun project.
So to sum up, it pays for itself in 4 pro trips, or 8 if you add all the extras. It can hit harder than most will ever need, but you can upgrade to the dual striker if you need more power. If you are handy, you can make your own bench, from almost anything. Spanking implements can be made from almost anything and can be as cheap as a couple of bucks, to a couple hundred, but the effector needs to be somewhat stiff. Straps can work but may need you to get creative. Paddles work great but you need to get one long enough to cover both sides and get everything to exactly the right position to get good coverage. I don't find it hard but it is a consideration if you are not very handy, and don't want to spend a lot of time trying to get things just right.
Contact me at
SandiaParkspankee@protonmail.com if you want more info. Happy spanking