I know this is a bit late but I've only just seen this thread.
I was one of the first people to obtain one of these superb cookers along with a few other members of the backpackers club. I bought it because as we always camp in the winter I was fed up with waiting for my gas stove to boil at below freezing temperatures. My Trangia would not work at its optimum because I refuse to sit outside with it and of course for optimum working a trangia needs a draft.
However the Optimus Nova has lived up to all the claims made for it 100% There is not in my experience another stove easier to light in the world. Its control is brilliant much finer than the MSR which go out if turned down to simmer.
The earlier ones we obtained did have a problem with the fuel bottle valves but they were immediatly exchanged for us when it became apparent.
The only problem I can see is having to wash it out to take it abroad.
