Our first one was a cheapie from Kmart - $175 I think and it started falling apart in no time. The net around it got holes in very early on. When we moved we left it there for the new owners (we asked them first if they wanted it!). Where we live now, the trampoline is up high and not safe without a good quality net, so we had to choose between buying a spring free one for about $1k or not getting one at all. DS1 has low muscle tone and jumping on a trampoline is really good for him, so we bit the bullet and bought the expensive one. The boys use it ALL the time. The novelty has never worn off - they jump on it, play ball games on it, wrestle on it, make up games on it, then jump on it some more. I baulked at the cost at first but it has been money well spent.