That's a shame about the Rheem. Ours has been overperforming my financial model in the standard eco mode. We do have an advantage in that it sits out in the open in the unfinished part of the basement, which runs slightly warm in the winter due to a ductwork problem. No venting was necessary.

It's definitely challenging to find trades who have both the knowledge and interest to innovate relative to standard HVAC installations in the area.