Before getting a new planer, I would first get the 36 mm hose (if you haven't got it already). (for planing I prefer the non AS version, because it's lighter and not as stiff)
I have a makita 1100 planer, which is a model that exists for a VERY long time, and I also have the optional bevelguide for it. I really like the planer, and because I mainly use it for doors, the weight doesn't bother me. It does have a longer sole than most other planers, which is a good thing for precision, but not so good to fit it inside a systainer.
link
A few years ago, right after festool changed to the T-loc systainers, one of the dealers had a clearance sale of demotools. I bought the boom arm for my ct22 and a HL850 planer at a discount price. I also got the bevelguide for it, and a spare blade.
The first time I used the planer I was at first impressed at how smooth and quiet it was, and I liked the quality of the bevelguide (which only bevels in one direction, which is handy for squaring (no need to use a spuare to set it, just put it at zero), but I use the bevelguide on my makita in the other direction. (there's a modification that can be made to have it bevel further, but for me that wouldn't work out, because then I still can't see what I'm doing because the blade is at the other side of the planer.)
I also like the soft start and the blade brake, and the possibility to make very deep rebates.
It also has a little parking foot, and the dustport can be reversed (features which most other planers also have, but my makita doesn't; the parking foot doesn't matter much when you have a bevelguide installed).
Now for the dislikes: the throttle style depth control is harder to control while keeping the planer in balance than the knob style (while hanging over the door to see a scribed line, due to the throttle handle, I can't stand on the other side of the door). And the major dislike: SNIPE (first I thought this could easily be remedied by downloading the supplemental owner's manual and following the directions, but there isn't one for the HL850)
There wasn't a major improvement in dust collection (which was already excellent with the makita), or smoothness of the cut (as long as I finish with a shallow pass with the makita).
I didn't go for the 65 because there isn't a bevelguide available for it (and the position of the handle doesn't look ergonomically comfortable to me.)
edit: I think I'll send the festool planer in for repair, allthough it was already five years old when I got it, they did register it for the 3 year warranty on the date of the sale; maybe festool can fix the snipe problem
