If you're going to pay $800 for a toilet seat, it better be no joke (or a government procurement). Fortunately, the Brondell Swash 800 justifies its price tag with its automated wash/dry features and heated seat. The question is, is it worth the eight Benjamins (or eight hundred Washingtons) you have to fork over?

Like its competitors, the Swash 800 has the essential features of an automated toilet: retractable wands that spray wash water to the target areas, an air blower that does the drying, and a heated seat. Water temperature and force can be controlled via a remote (which can also be wall-mounted).

More importantly, the Swash 800 is not a whole toilet - it really is a toilet seat that hooks right over your existing seat (or at least 98% of them, says the company), so no expensive bathroom remodeling is required. It will require, however, an electrical outlet, which usually means extension cords if the outlet isn't conveniently near the toilet.

Back to the bottom's bottom line: is it worth it? Depends on your total budget, and how you feel about hand-wiping your own... waste disposal hole. This automated throne bit is quite popular in Japan, where both complex gadgets and hygiene are something of a cultural obsession. The company lists the 800 at a little over $1,000, but believes it will eventually retail at $800.