I have and have use for the past four years A ClearVue cyclone. It is licensed and built on the Bill Pentz design. I cannot speak for the others but I expect them all to be much better than any bag type.
I am very happy with mine and I have run 6" duct to every tool in my shop.
The ONLY down side to a very good dust collector is that I cannot lift the 55 gallon drum to dump it in the dumpster when it is full of fine dust from the sanders. I have to let my son do that for me. Planer and jointer chips I can handle, but still let my son do it.
I do like that fact that I can see what is going on with the ClearVue unit, but a metal one that is working would be just as good I am sure.
The proof is in how much dust gets past the cyclone and ends up on the final filters.
I even have a baby ClearVue cyclone for the shop vac. I never have to clean the shop vac or that paper filter that gets all stopped up with dust when not using a cyclone.
If anyone is close to Charlottesville, VA and has a CAMaster machine, I would love to stop by and see it-
I pick up my second ShopBot machine tomorrow. I am very happy with ShopBot.
ed
Trotec Speedy 300 45W
Universal VLS4.60 50W
Universal M-300 50w
ShopBot PRSAlpha48
Techno LC4848
Oneway 2436