Thanks everyone. I'm not a newbie hamster owner.
I had a YouTube channel - squeakysmallpaws, mostly focused on guinea pigs and rats but there is a video review I did on hamster heaven. However, my now husband is chronically allergic to quite a few animals - it was mostly the rats but also the guinea pigs (allergy to the hay).
His allergies are so bad and we did everything - most expensive air purifiers, tried every substrate, separate room, antihistamines - you name we tried it - nothing worked. His allergies just got worse and worse. In the beginning he wasn't too bad, 2 years later and he couldn't be anywhere near them. We went to a specialist, paid privately to go and their advice was a flat out - you need to not have rats, it was beginning to cause lung damage and at 30 he had signs of copd, based on consistent asthma attacks.
In the end we spent close to £1000 modded out the shed outside - indoor flooring, damp proofing, heating - furniture for me to hang out in there and they were happy but even leaving a window open in the house while I cleaned them out a good 10 metres from the house triggered an asthma attack for hubby. We got through it by being super careful. We didn't rehome the rats, we made it work till the bitter end but after the last one passed we did not get anymore. Hugely sad for me as from my videos I think you'll see I totally adored them.
However, hamsters he's not allergic too! We currently have 5. 2 dwarfs, 1 Syrian, a Chinese and for the first time a robo. All are rescues. The robo is a delight. Rehome due to her 'aggression'....After a month she will now very calmly sit in our hands and eat treats! Not a bone of aggression, she's actually very calm with us but is skittish - slightest movement above her cage and she darts off, sometimes jumping in fright. She's in a taming cage - medium size savic tank but she's now due her upgrade, as we've earned her trust and she will quite happily come to us.
I have 2 iMac cages, a ferplast Mary, and a hamster heaven all in use. Personally found all my hamsters happiest in the iMac - although it's not without its flaws - all of which you've described.
I only tend to put the fallers and the skittish in it though. For the brave and competent climbers they get the hamster heaven style cage.
With Mini she doesn't like to be in open spaces. She prefers running in and out of hidies, choosing to be in something rather than climbing on top. This may change as her confidence does but she was an adult at the time of adoption so I don't expect huge changes.
Not specifically after a bargain cage, have no issue spending the money on the right cage for then but the Duna multy left me flat - again for reasons described - it's just a flat empty space.
Been looking at the Duna fun - will have a look at some of the other cages linked too.
The reason I wondered about the iMac is the nice enclosed element - she can't see above so I think it will make her less jumpy in her home overall. But open to suggestions.
Re the Alaska - I just think the overall quality is poor, bendy bars, gaps, bars not coated, it feels flimsy (unless its improved much since I came across one) but it does have its redeeming qualities - the price, ability to easily add shelves and depth for substrate.
Thanks xx