Accumulator said:
I think the PC/4" and Cyclo are pretty close, with the edge going to the PC for ability and to the Cyclo for user-friendliness. I do *not* think that the difference in ability gets to the point of "you *can* do it with the PC but you *can't* do it with the Cyclo" though but maybe the damage I caused with the PC and the fact that I've *never* done anything remotely like that with the Cyclo means that I'm wrong about that
No question which one is more pleasant to use though; I'd rather spend a hour with the Cyclo than half an hour with the PC any day.
Accumulator,
Thank you for your detailed and helpful reply. As you might guess from my questions I am trying to gauge where certain tool would be more appropriate and what are traps to watch for. Of course, nothing can replace hands-on experience but living in the apartment building I am very limited in what I can do and where I can do it, so I have to ask in order to minimize chance of costly mistakes. Still, I need to find a way to practice.
When it comes to pleasure of use I am thorougly satisfied with Cyclo. I have lower back injury and right elbow injury so I am very sensitive to any irritation tool has on body. I had practically none due to Cyclo so that tells a lot.
I liked result I achieved with Cyclo (which newb wouldn't even if it sucked big time compared to what pros can?) but I ended up with impression that even though huge part of it is due to my inexperience (using too much material, too light pressure, moving too fast, all the wrong things inexperienced newb like me ends up doing) there is a possibility Cyclo was not working that paint strong enough for me.
When I was thinking what could be causing that (if I was correct) it's design was coming to my mind. It was leaving me with impression that manner it was designed in results in heat spread across larger area (meaning lower spot focused heat) which would make it safer (less chance of burning) than single 4in pad but also not as "aggressive" as single 4in pad (because from what I read temperature plays a role in whether polishing will be achieved and how fast). Somehow I was concluding PC would be better if you have "bad condition" to attack and spot work, while Cyclo would be better for those final "perfection passes". Of course, knowing less than nothing when it comes to polishing there is a huge chance I am way off, but that was my train of thought.
Also, one "user friendliness" issue I had with Cyclo was that I was feeling it's "working surface" is not good fit for panels / body lines like ones on my car (3rd generation Supra, has "bends" with many areas not big enough to properly apply Cyclo on, think something like BMW Z4). So, many moons later I got G100 as an early birthday gift, I will be taking "newb" class at Meguiar's in few weeks and ordering some DVDs, and will give it another shot with both and hopefully will know enough to be able to come back and say "now those were some stupid questions I was pestering guys on Autopia with"
) and opinions will change.
let alone "pestering" 
