I'm watching the review now, so I'm not sure if I will be upset, and, if so how much. I finally bit the bullet and bought a Hakko 472 (with 817 gun) for a bit over 500, I think.
I had been using a Weller that was a piece of crap. I got tired of fighting it. My dad got it for me, used. It gives me the impression it was a piece of crap even when new. Tips were difficult to find, and spare parts were getting difficult or impossible to find.
When I worked at the repair shop, I used something called the "solder gobbler" that didn't have a pump - it was just an iron with a venturi that you connected to a shop air compressor. That think worked well and was less trouble than the Wellers that the boss and senior tech used. I'd still use one (they are available on E-bay) but I didn't want to run an air line and keep my compressor on, especially for an iron with no temp control. The Wellers were also models the used shop air - they worked better than those with the tiny vacuum pumps.
As a poor kid, I'd strip every old board I could get my hands on. I still have many of those parts.
The Hakko 472 is larger, and "older" looking. (not modern, no LCD, just LED for temp) The Gun holder is a lot better. It works well and seems as if it will hold up well. (no sponge holder, however.) It can be mounted on either side.
The tube on the ZD985 looks as if it's interchangeable with the Hakko -it looks like the same spring, same filter, looks to be the same size tube, etc. I bet the whole thing and the parts are interchangeable. I find that one can use a cheap, hot air gun to drop the solder out of the spring to re-use.
The gun looks like it even takes the same tips as the similar Hakko 817.
The pump sounds the same. I'm guessing they are at least similar.
I'm tempted to buy a second gun for a different tip, so I don't have to keep switching.
After watching, I'd say I would have put up with the few problems Dave had for the 300 dollar savings, but, I don't think I regret the Hakko - it's very nice, but that's comparing it with the Weller. Anyway, it's too late now. If I had, I may have said "I should have spent the money on the Hakko."