The quality of this fireplace was by far superior to any unit I've purchased (and assembled) at Lowes or Home Depot. There were certainly an exponential number of pieces and hardware, and it took 3 hours for me to configure. However, once it is fully put together you will realize every cam lock, screw, and dowel pin makes this a tight, sturdy fireplace. The wood isn't a cheap, flat primed laminate- the grain is visible and the craftsmanship is evident.The fireplace insert is very well designed and is really a beautiful addition to the overall presentation. The flames are just rolling lights and aren't necessarily a perfect faux flame, however function over form is more critical as the heat output really is significant. The red, dimensional brick also makes the insert pop.The ONLY con (albeit petty) is the backboard panels for each side shelf does not feature a thru-hole for cord management if you wanted to use the shelves for gaming consoles or cable boxes. You could certainly use a hole saw to drill a 1.5-2" diameter hole for this purpose, but nothing that would make or break this purchase again.Overall, the price for this fireplace is exceptional for the quality and I would highly recommend.