I've had the straight desolder station now for a few weeks - it is unbelievable how good and quick a job this thing does, can't believe i've not had one until now, very well worth the $$$.  Although i did use a chinese ebay one the other day (2 days after i ordered mine) that was only $110 or so delivered, and it was much more portable (the whole thing is just the gun handle with the vacuum pump inside), i'd probably go one of them next time.

The only thing that is not as easy as demonstrated is cleaning it - it has a spring inside where the solder collects, and the solder seems to stick to the inside of the spring and you need to work it around a fair bit with long nose pliers