I got one for my old 'folks' - I thought it looked good, relatively easy to use, wide coverage, etc. However they didn't like it. They found the mechanism too tough to use, did not like the way it blew around when the parasol bit was down, the base is weird - needs paving slabs, and (have to agree with them on this) it will be more awkward to store in winter than a bog standard 'straight' parasol. This probably doesn't help - but hopefully gives you the good and bad...
Original Poster
That's really helpful, thanks! I was concerned about the base and how it would stabilised but like the idea of the flexibility of it!