Used Vitamix Has Anyone Used The VitaMix? Is It Really Better Than A Good Blender?

Has anyone used the VitaMix? Is it really better than a good blender? - used vitamix

My husband and I are lacto-ovo-vegetarian for a while, something) (more than one year and I want to go vegan. I received brochures from Vita-Mix and am having a difficult time justifying spending $ 500 on what looks like a mixer. I have a good blender, smoothies that are good. The Vita-Mix, so that the cells are destroyed. Is that really possible? And how both can make hot soup and ice cream? I wonder about anyones experience with Vita-Mix ... good or bad.