Good question. I've used the SS350, the SS-02 I bought after starting that thread that thm_w linked (wow, 10 years already?), and a ZD985 like the one Dave reviewed.
I don't think any of them are perfect or superior in every way to each other, and I think the lack of consensus in those threads will indicate that you'll need to try a few different tools to find the one that suites your application / technique / preference. Here are my 3 cents having gone through the motions:
Edsyn SS350:
Works ok, but I don't like how the tip is prone to melting and not a simple consumable like the SS-02's silicone tubing. Suction was also not enough for my taste. If I got another Edsyn, I would go for one of the larger / stronger ones.
Engineer SS-02:
Works maybe a little better than the SS350. The soft silicone hose tip is easy to change out and also lets you press into the board / joint to get a better seal. Tube diameter is a little narrow, so it feels more prone to jamming if you wick up a lot of flux. O-rings will degrade as others have complained, but you can buy an o-ring variety kit on Amazon for replacements. Not sure about the inner seal / wiper, might have to 3D print it if it goes bad.
ZD985 / Hakko type desoldering station:
This worked really well for quickly desoldering a large number of throughhole keyboard switches until it became clogged. I returned it because I couldn't find an easy way to keep it clean, might be a user issue. I see many updated versions of this station now, but they mostly use the same handpiece design inherited from the Hakko. The newer T12 units with the STM32 iron controller + separate vacuum look really interesting, I would get one if I wanted to try the vacuum + iron style again. (Also
this thread made me lol, but I get the frustration.)
Overall, manual or automatic, you should be prepared to try multiple times and learn good technique to deal with various situations. The SS-02 is as fine a starting point as any, but don't expect magical results if you have big components attached to strong heatsinks (ground planes).
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