Sounds like a terribly designed machine with bad software. I bought a Korean machine in 2006 and still own it. However, unlike your friend's, mine is a front

Sounds like a terribly designed machine with bad software. I bought a Korean machine in 2006 and still own it. However, unlike your friend's, mine is a front loader. Immediately I noticed a lower electricity bill because it's using much less hot water. It adds a small amount of water and tumbles the clothes. If the water level in the tub does not go down, the contents are saturated and no more water is needed. We are also using very little soap and softener - we buy soap once a year! We typically fill the scoop for soap halfway up to the first mark, and enough softener to just cover the bottom of the dispenser. I also feel better knowing there is less water and soap being drained into our septic tank. Our machine has an extra rinse option - it normally does two rinses anyway - and fills more water on certain cycles ("hand wash.")