We bought an '88 build that came with a TC. Initial thought was to pull it, but once we used it a few times we decided to keep it. Great appliance.

Controversial, even with those married (opposites attract).
At least some clients are wise enough to allow a trash drawer in kitchen cabinets with an outlet in case a future TC might be installed, if not right away.

The objections are clear:
Smelly (b/c they disposed the wrong stuff or didn't take it out often)
Waiting for masher to rise when on full compact
Dirty = cleaning
Bags cost more as they must be sturdy
Glass escapes onto floor (no glass in please)

The advantages out weigh all that in a minority of camps (I agree)
Cans/other trash hogs get smashed flat
Difficult/stubborn boxes, etc. get managed into a bag
One heavy trip to the garbage dump/street/etc. vs 3-4-5 cans
Less of a target for raccoons, other trash speading events causing cleanup

This is not a garage disposer nor counter can collecting compost fodder!

Compaction rules! ... if you know how to care for it
Kudos to you.

Yes. We got ours with the house but it didn't work. I was able to fix it. Turned out it was a faulty switch. It works well now.

We don't use special bags, am able to use the normal bags we use for our recycling trash can.

We're empty nesters so it works for us. We buy the compactor bags at Costco.

We still use one.

We've had the same GE compactor in our house since we built it in '83. We recycle everything we can, and we never put food scraps or glass in it.

Love it.

Ours is a GE Profile.

Our house came with one and I love it. Everything non food goes into it. Papers, plastic bulky containers, etc.

We have 5 kids so it took some teaching to get them to not put food in it. (Hard lesson one day when we couldn't identify garbage Anel, and then saw maggots crawling out from under the compactor… kid had thrown food in it, after they had to clean it, all learned the lesson).

Bags are more costly, but we only change it 1x month, so we only use around 12 bags/year.

Had one at the ranch for as long as I can remember. Was a weekend place but my parents have been there full time since 2021. Never had any problems that I'm aware of. We buy the recommended bags. Most kitchen/ dinner trash can go in there. Glass we put out in the big can. As long as you use common sense and only put things in there that you could reasonably compact down to make more space it is a useful appliance