In my experience , problems with most furlers are either poor installation, underspecified for the size/weight of the craft (i.e.buying the furler where the boat is at the bottom of the suitability scale, but there is a $ or two to be saved), or user error (i.e.furling the headsail whilst it's sheeted in, putting the furling line on the winch and grinding like hell).
I guess the spilt would be something like 60% / 25% / 15%, or a combination of all the above.
There are problems with most of the furlers on the market; but an understanding of these problems that are particular to each, can be addressed during installation, and/or training in use and of course MAINTENANCE!!! Miss any one of these and any furler can, and will be rooted sooner or later.
So if you do maintenance, buy a Schaefer; if you don't, buy a profurl and get it properly installed, with the correct top car position, this may require a pennant on the sail. But the sealed bearings etc will carry on working without your help long after the schaefer has seized cos you aint maintained it.
There's my 2 cents worth, hope it help
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