Nothing wrong with the Vmod XL.... Been a workhorse for over a year now.... Not knocking the REO, but the Vmod is a good introduction feeder. I laugh at the responses for REO's, that they hold a good resale value, but even what some people are asking for in the classifieds is still too much IMO.... Still don't like the fact that Rob is still charging everyone a premium price for tooling on every unit he sells.... Anyone with an engineering or manufacturing background knows that an REO Grand only costs about $50 for parts and labor!!! Markup is way too high.... If you don't value your APV's and just drop or
throw them around, I would suggest, (yes suggest), you get the REO. If you take care of your APV's, then you could save some cash and get a good APV in a Vmod XL.... Don't let all the, "its a plastic APV", comments dissuade you. It is a good solid
mod when assembled.... Don't hate!!!!
I've had both. I can give an honest appraisal.
Both have design pros and cons.
Rob can charge whatever he wants, because not only is reo a great product, but the customer service simply cannot be beat. That is the big difference here. Try that with vapage.
However, reo is a small shop and vapage isn't. You are comparing apples and oranges. Vapage is a big wholesaler and you can't compare the 2 companies at all. Both of the designers are talented, IMHO and came up with thoughtful designs that work. They just have completely different strengths and weaknesses, but both vape perfectly wonderfully.
But the vmod does have some design things I like. I like the window placement. It makes squonking very ergonomically pleasant. When you are holding it, the window placement is such that your index, middle and other fingers are right there and window placement is actually on "3" sides because it wraps around.
Usefulness, both bottom feeders work very well and do what they are designed to do. The chamber setup in the vmod is very nice, and I've never had a leak. Not even a drop.
However, the chassis on the vmod IS plastic. So it can crack. The aluminum casing is thin, and works fine when on the mod, but if you take it off the mod, it can bend easily. I found this out mailing it and getting it back, is got a little squooshed and was hard to straighten out and slide back on after that.
The reo is forever. With a rebuild kit, there is nothing on the mechanical reos that can't be fixed. Nothing.
However, not everyone wants or cares to have a mod last forever. Some of us don't expect to vape forever.
Use wise, I have used both, they do what they are designed to do. The vmod is a tad smaller, so if you have a small hand, the vmod2.0 is just a tad thinner and overall easier to hold than a reo.
I really can't knock either one. To be honest, on the mechanical ones, I don't iike the button on either one. On the vmod the spring is in there and seems like a weak point. On the reo, without the large button cover which is extra, the button is just too small in diameter.
I have hand and wrist problems/injuries, so I am rather particular when it comes to holding/using bottom feeders. I can honestly say that both work really nicely. I like the screw-in bottle for the vmod a bit better than the bottle with the feeder tube on the reo. It's just easier, and you can store juice in the vmod bottles and they come with a cap....so carrying around extra bottles is easier w/the vmod.
with the reo if you have sensitive hands, sometimes the corners can kinda jab you. I think Rob has rounded them in the 2.1 now. The vmod was a little bit more comfortable in that respect at least for me....small female hands and thin skin.
The reo will, without a doubt, last longer with rough use. And, you can repair it yourself with a rebuild kit. If something goes wrong with the vmod it's got to go back to vapage under the warranty, so you will be without your vape for a while.
As for the vape, really no difference. Battery life in the mecahnical versions drops off, that's a given. Both give a nice vape, both feed great, both are leak free.
The only other thing would be aesthetics. Eveyrone has a different design sense. Both have a certain "look" and you might prefer one design over the other to "look at". The vmod can really look adorable with the rubberized skins, and the skins are comfortable in both hot and very cold temps. The reo being aluminum, it can be cold when you first pick it up in winter if you keep your house very cool like i do, but it warms up quickly. Ditto, hot weather, it goes to 108 here and I think a rubberized skin is more comfortable in the hand. All that can be solved with a skin from serenity gear for the reo.
Window placement in vmod is the bomb, squonking for me at least is way easier. It does also feel a bit better in my hand, although I can tell you that for larger hands, the vmod2.0 can feel rather "cramped". Reo will last longer due to design. Reo wins on customer service but that is only based on my experience and results may vary...it's a much smaller shop than vapage, the latter being a wholesaler as well, so they are not a one or 2 person shop. Whole different ball game.
I use both and it depends on the criteria that is important to YOU as to which you will like better. I happen to like both.

ALL things being equal? REO is worth the extra money for sure, and robert is the most attentive vendor you will ever find. If you don't want to shell out the price, and you want a nice bottom feeder at lower price, then get a vmod. Really, it's all based on what is most important to you. Theres something for everyone between these 2 bottom feeders IMHO