A Kitchenaid is a big investment, but most people who have made the investment, just love it. I think the following questions will help answer the question for your specific circumstances:
1. Do you cook/bake a lot? I use my Kitchenaid at least twice a week.
2. Do you ever need to bake larger quantities eg a 10" or above cake? If you also buy a larger capacity bowl (such as the glass bowl), you'll bless the day that you bought a Kitchenaid if you bake larger cakes
3. Is it important to you to have a really stylish piece of Kitchen equipment out in your kitchen? This is not a facile question, if having nice things in your kithcen gives you pleasure, then your Kirchenaid will warm your heart too every time you use it.
I'm a big KithcenAid fan, but then I am also a keen baker and cake decorator (so often make large or multi-layer cakes). I can honestly say that my KitchenAid is the best stand mixer I've ever had. However, (and I've said this before too), my second best stand mixer ever was a second-hand Kenwood Chef that I bought for £40. It must have been at least 20 years old when I bought it as a student, and I kept it for another 10 years, then sold it on myself (stupid decision, bought something new that wasn't half as good). My point is, if looks are not important to you but value for money is, buy a second hand Kenwood. However, don't do this if every time you use it or look at it, you wish you'd bought a Kitchenaid.
Don't waste your money on anything else other than Kitchenaid or Kenwood.
You can see some of my bakes on m blog
http://www.dipsdesigns.com/p/cakes-sweet-treats.html
Oh, and one of the best places to buy is Harts of Stur. HTH!
