I just used mine for the second time yesterday. There are definetly some draw backs to the therminator. For one, it is hard to clean. I have found that boiling after use gets most of the lodged material out. I boil it for fifteen minutes, turn off the heat, then add PBW. I then take a pair of tongs and remove the therminator, empty the liquid, submerge, empty the liquid and so on. This action helps get the rest of the particles out. I then rinse and submerge in sanitizer. This may sound contrary to the instructions, but I think hard flushing the Therminator only lodges the fine particles further. Dunking and draining the Therminator may be more effective.
Another aspect about the Therminator that I do not like is that it is hard to get all the liquid out of it. There is always a little liquid trapped in this thing. I blew miny out with co2 , and that helped, but I could still hear liquid in it.
My chilling results using the Therm are nothing short of amazing. I use the 1/2" fittings with gravity and I am collecting 10 gallons in 7 to 8 minutes.
The Theminator WILL NOT get a thumbs up until I have brewed at least ten batches without issues. So far this is the only peice of equipment that I have changed in my setup in the past year. If the Therm doesn't clean and sanitize the way the manufacturers say it will, then it does me no good.
I am a little worried about my last batch, only becaused of the debris that was trapped in my therminator. Even though I boiled it and sanitized it, there is no way to tell that I got all the particles out. I'll post my results when I rack my beer.