The Vitamix is NOT "just a blender." This thing is a blender like Michael Jordan is pretty good at basketball. It is a life-changing kitchen appliance, and I'm not exaggerating. It will revolutionize your concept of blenders. It will massively increase the spectrum and quality of things you are able to cook at home. To call this a blender is an insult to the Vitamix. :-)
I never really liked smoothies before, because they were always lumpy or stringy, and now I drink one for breakfast daily. I don't put ice in my smoothies, but for margaritas, etc., it blows the ice to smithereens. No chunks. Soups and sauces are super smooth. No need to chop up anything before you toss it in -- it can handle a frozen banana broken in half, big chunks of ginger, etc. On the other hand, if you want to leave things a bit chunky, like guacamole, that's totally doable, too.
Yeah, it's loud, but no big deal. It's over in a minute or two. You don't have to wrestle with it forever like you do with a blender. (What's more annoying, a minute of a loud noise, or 10 minutes of on, off, scrape it down, on again, off again, scrape, scrape, on again, etc.)
You can also grind your own spices, flour, nuts, etc. And yes, it makes great nut butter.
As someone mentioned above, if mine broke today, I'd buy a new one immediately without giving it a second thought. (That is, if it didn't have a warranty. I believe new ones have a 15 year warranty and reconditioned ones have a 5 year warranty.)
I got mine reconditioned from Vitamix 3 years ago, and I've used it at least once a day and sometimes as many as 5-10 times a day. It still works as well as it did on Day 1. My boyfriend has had his (reconditioned) for two years. My mom has had hers for 3 years. All are still in perfect condition despite daily use. I even know someone who owns multiple homes and has one for each house!