The point of the countdown is to keep you committed to going to class/WI, its stops you thinking "oh i havn't done well this week ill give it a miss and put a holiday in" would you really want to pay £49.50 and not get your moneys worth? I don't think there is a con, you save money, get a free sauces book, get 12 weeks for the price of 10. 2 girls in my class this week said I nearly didn't come cos ive not had a good week, they both lost so it cant have been that bad. The countdown stops you doing that and keeps you on track. Its personal choice to buy one, if I had the £49.50 up front id certainly be having one. This is just how I feel about them others may feel/think differently