Coffee is almost religion here in France.
Even so, few people go to the expense of a semi-automatic or fully automatic espresso machine - those machines are viewed as justified if you run a bar/restaurant, hotel, conference centre, offices, etc, but too expensive for domestic use. True there will always be enthusiasts who are happy to spend €1500 on an automatic machine, and then only use it for one cup of coffee a day - but they are in the minority.
Virtually everyone is happy to use espresso machines in the price range €100 to €200 at home - most machines have the same functionality, 15 bar, and can use ground coffee, capsules or pods, so the choice really comes down to convenience and looks/styling.
The Krups machines are popular because they offer self-tamping, and a button to eject the used grounds from the holder, but are maybe not the best from a looks/styling point of view.
I have recently started to think that the journey to explore coffee grains from many areas of the world, is somewhat similar to the journey that audiophiles take to explore new equipment or new music/bands, in the search for new experiences.