The Vario is the grinder everyone respects but nobody buys anymore. It'll run for a decade without a hiccup, and the W+ model's grind-by-weight feature actually works, but retention is messy, coarse grinds come out uneven, and newer flat burr grinders at the same price just do more with less fuss. Buy it if you find a refurb under $300 or you prize Baratza's legendary repair support. At full retail, the DF54 and Eureka Mignon have passed it by.
Option-O built its reputation on a specific bet: that stripping away fines would unlock clarity light-roast obsessives had been chasing for years. The P64 proved that bet, then got replaced by the P80 with bigger burrs and tighter tolerances, so you're shopping a discontinued model unless you find used. What you get is exceptional flavor separation and near-zero retention, but these grinders pull thin, bright shots that read beautifully yet lack the syrupy body traditional espresso drinkers expect. If you brew fruit-forward naturals and want to taste every fermentation note, the Lagom family delivers; if you make milk drinks or prefer chocolatey medium roasts, a conical grinder will serve you better.