I have *thick* wavy/curly hair and I hate it! I go through phases with the chi, i'll use it religiously for about 2 weeks and love my hair and then i'll get lazy and not use it for a month. It takes me a little over a half hour to straighten it (not including the half hour it could take to blow dry my hair if I don't let it air dry) so I don't do it very often.
I got my chi on ebay and I think it was like $100. Well worth it though!
Laura, i'm jealous of your hair! I would kill for stick straight hair!