Which one did you get in the end?
Actually, after discovering the Hakko FM-206 (
http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fm206.html), I realized it would best fit my needs, especially since it's modular and I don't have a lot of bench space, and the tool stands detect tool presence for sleep mode (esp. important for lead-free).
The available configurations are best seen at Hakko USA:
http://www.hakkousa.com/detail.asp?CID=51,345&PID=4936&Page=1 (see about halfway down the page). Even though I was only going to start with a soldering pencil and hot air tool, I "went for" the FM206-DSA configuration (Desolder, Solder, hot Air) since I realized I could also justify a proper desoldering tool (as opposed to my old spring-loaded one) since I'm also doing some higher-power through-hole stuff.
The hot air accessory FM-2029 is a pencil-type rework tool (
http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fm2029.html), more similar to the Zephyrtronics unit I had been considering in my original post. It does not have the airflow capacity of something like the Hakko FR-801 which I had also been considering, which is why it only has available a few smaller general-purpose nozzles and is good for reworking components up to about 10mm x 10mm (which suits me for now). A nice feature is programmable temperature profiling, which should be useful for reflow-soldering of individual components which should not be contact-soldered.
Re. Hakko in general, I was reassured of maintainability by the blow-apart diagrams and parts lists in all their manuals.
After I get my FM-206 system and gain some experience with it, I'll see about posting a review.
Thanks,
Terry Karlson