I see the Beast as pretty innovative, it's a nice little spin on a direct drive the way the needle inserts into the machine body and is locked down with its own screw. They are going to offer it with a 10v maxon too and at a lower price point that previous Stigmas. I see the Beast as a def buy and try machine for me. The prodigy does look like a halo and a dragonfly had a baby, but it's all in the hit and give, I learned long ago that just because a rotary looks like another and has the same principled operating system doesn't mean it will perform the same. I'd much rather have machine options I don't need or want, than want or need for machine options.