Sandwich makers were very popular round the world since they were invented in the early 1920s. Even till the 70s they were widely used to make sandwiches. It was only after that, that a number of other designs came in and displaced the sandwich maker from its favored position.
Nowadays you get the sandwich presses that not only toast the bread, but also give you the option of making your sandwiches or panini sandwiches in them. They are also not much more expensive than the sandwich makers and are in fact a better option than even the old toasters.
Gourmet Panini Press
The toasters that predate the toastie makers are still popular today simply because they offer the ability to make crispy toast while the sandwich maker will give you crispy toast only if you do not include any butter or cheese or anything that will melt and soak into the bread.
When looking for a machine, unless you are really particular about the sealed in contents, go with the normal one. The Proctor Silex 25401 is a good option here. Although you still cannot make as big sandwiches as if you had a panini sandwich maker, it is still a low cost option that you can bear in mind because it does the job. Because it does not seal the sides, you can take your sandwich after it is done and then put in a slice of cheese inside after that.
Most toastie makers are used often only in the weeks immediately after you purchase it. It is therefore a good option to get the cheapest one that you can find. Going in for a really expensive one would only be a waste of money. Many of the plastic ones are sturdy enough and as long as you don't try to put in a really massive sandwich and then try to clip it shut, even the clip will hold.
Most people who give bad ratings say that the clip is the first to go, and they will be the ones who want to make a jumbo sandwich. The toastie makers is not built to make this kind of sandwich. What it does best is to seal in just a little bit of filling with a little grated cheese so that you can carry it with you. A toastie maker is not to be used if you want to make something and eat it immediately. There are a number of better options out there. If however you want to have sandwiches for lunch, this is the best option for you. You get two sandwiches within just three or four minutes and there are very few other kinds of food that you can say the same for.