Think I bought mine used for $350.
Yeah, keep your eye out. They're really simple to rebuild, too, and Concept 2 supports their products really well. I swapped out the handle, the computer and the footstraps and bought new bushings. There's also a guy who sells a shroud that goes around the fan so it blows 100% in your face; that thing is super-handy. The mechanicals of the C, D and E are not substantially different; a C with the new computer is effectively a D. Only real difference between a D and an E is the E is taller and a different color.
Did you get a custom handle or one of Concept 2's? I get no pain, no gain, but making and popping blisters if I want to stay rowing for 10-20 minutes isn't fun. That shroud... sounds perfect. Thanks for the descriptions, I'm like to make the most pragmatic choice and go for the cheapest one without compromising the functionality of the hardware; keeping it simple for myself.
Behold: The C-Breeze. I did the PM5 computer and the ergo handle. And you're going to want biking gloves. Workout gloves work, too - go fingerless. You'll feel kinda flashdance but you won't beat the crap out of your hands.
Solid. Thanks for the links, especially for the C-Breeze. Last time I went to the gym, another one of those hey-I'll-try-this-out champs sat next to me and went absolutely ham for 5 minutes. The breeze from his fan... I'm more than willing to slap on any gloves that'll prevent the feeling of hot coals on my (inner?) knuckles. I think I might have a spare set of fingerless gloves back at the mothership I can even use for the time-being.