I got super rough cuts on all aluminum. Tried 1/4” and it grew a beard! Setup per the manual. It would blow aluminum up onto the tip, blocking it, causing poor cutting, overheating and damaging the tip within a few seconds. After blowing 3 tips I tried Lifting the cut height and at least that allowed it to cut but made cut quality unacceptable. All I did was straight cut two full sheets into thirds which I do to all my steel sheets for easier lifting/storage.
Correct hardware, psi, cut speed, grounding.
But back to which cutter: I’d buy as much power as you can afford. I find myself trying new ideas and designing more complex and stronger pieces. I wish I could cut 5/8” now and would surely eventually want to use 3/4”. I’ve got a 5/8” H-beam I need to cut and I’m dreading doing it with gas because I have little experience with it.