OK, now that’s an intelligent and sensible way to look at this issue. Thanks.
My opinion is that what really matters is simply whether or not a particular PEMF system works in terms of actually helping people. For most commercial PEMF systems the answer is apparently YES, they actually are all pretty much helpful.
But then you get all the layering of misinformation and fraud from PEMF marketers to gain market share, and the lack of technical standardization of PEMF systems, and the fact that the science of PEMF effects on biology is absolutely not well understood.
So, my opinion is that the best way to look for PEMF systems is to talk to people who have actually used them, who do not have a financial bias. Talking to sales reps will probably get you nowhere, because they have carefully-crafted answers targeted to capture your business.
So, I would say that clinic owners with a huge financial stake in their PEMF system, and PEMF sales reps, are the worst source for honest information, no matter what questions you ask.
Also, it is not quite true that the C5 has just as much power as any other system. The technical fact is that it is 99.8% more efficient, so it can be equally as biologically effective by using only 0.2% of the power of the huge but inefficient PEMF systems. It is sort of like driving to the grocery store: you do not need the most powerful car to get there, and more powerful cars do not necessarily get you anywhere faster.
It is also true that a lot of the effects of much more powerful systems are biologically different than the effects of much lower power, more efficient systems. More powerful systems can, for example, have a numbing effect. This will reduce pain, but only by blocking the signal, not necessarily by promoting tissue healing.
I really think it all comes down to this:
Can you find an unbiased person who has used the system who can tell you how well it works?
Is the company reputable? Will they stand behind and support their products?
Is the price reasonable given the cost?
Then you can think about whether your lifestyle works best with large PEMF systems, or portable (personal) PEMF.
The honest people I have talked to, mostly smaller business clinicians, tell me that combining a few treatments from a large PEMF system in a clinic plus daily treatments with portable (Personal) PEMF works best overall to get the best possible long-term clinical outcome.