I upgraded to the HDZ in March 2020 and love it. The Z-Plus has been promised for ever in the store and still remains vapor ware. The HDZ I bought was on sale for $400.00 and was version 3.2. I saw they have a new 4.0 HDZ and have not checked price. If they keep the $450.00 price for the HDZ and the Z-Plus at $250.00 I think the $200.00 is well worth it. I have not had a Z-Plus so I cannot compare but the HDZ vs the stock belt Z there is no comparison. Frankly for me the higher price was worth it but you have to spend your money your way. I can only say that the HDZ is great and was certainly worth the $400.00 (on sale) I paid for it.
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@MarkLince, @Julien, @gdon_2003, @LiamN, @shapeokonoob, @Vince.Fab
thank you for your comments which will help me to choose.
when it will be available 
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Make sure your register your email address to be notified, apparently there’s a huge batch coming soon but there’s also a large crowd of HDZ-hungry people out there 
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thanks, it’s been done since yesterday
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A little late to the party…but for the record, @RichCournoyer has made some cool stuff with the Z-Plus seems quite content with the Z-Plus and has convinced me to be satisfied with its capabilities when it becomes available to purchase. His adventures with aluminum featuring a 4th axis have been impressive utilizing the Z-Plus.
Like others have said if another $200 for extra beefiness is worth it, then more power to you! It’s been nice to see many happy customers with the HDZ.
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I am leaning towards an HDZ, due to it’s Z-travel and the thought, that I would never have to upgrade again. If I spend an extra $200 now, I potentially won’t have to disassemble the machine in the future if I want to add a giant spindle.
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You do realize they just announced the v4 of this thing - and lots of folks are considering upgrading their prior versions? Never say never! 
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Opening up a whole new market for second hand HDZs
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What I do with my Shapeoko may not be the same as others. So for me I cannot see upgrading from the HDZ 3.2 unless it came with a full time butler to keep my bat cave in order. At some point when upgrading you exceed the capability of the Shapeoko. The Shapeoko is a great machine with a good amount of features like BitSetter, BitZero and BitRunner but as a belt driven machine there can some incremental improvements but without major modifications the Shapeoko close to its limits. That is not to say that the limits are not acceptable. I dont need a Formula 1 race car to go to the grocery store just like I dont need a $200,000.00 CNC to do what I do. My pickup works well to get me to the store and haul home my groceries just like my Shapeoko does what I need.
As I said everyone does something different with their Shapeoko. Upgrade what ever you like but at some point you add so many bells and whistles that it collapses the machine on it self.
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FWIW, I’m having a hard time seeing the need to update from any older version of the HDZ to a new one, and I say that as a person who could probably get a free v4.0 HDZ just for asking for one.
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Same here, I have a V1 I think, with hundreds of hours on it and it still runs like a top. The HDZ has been overbuilt right from the start and its awesome that Carbide continues to improve.
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Me too,
There’s plenty of other things to spend $400 that would do more for the Shapeoko or me than a small upgrade to the already way better than the rest of the machine HDZ.
Materials for things to build on my machine perhaps?
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I’m beginning to think some folks spend most of their time fine tuning and upgrading instead of making stuff. 
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Guilty as charged! ⠀⠀
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I do both at the same time, I mill and improve the “cn”. (where I need it where I feel the need)
That’s the fun.
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If you have a HDZ already, there is little reason to buy another. Please save your money.
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Yeah…and give those of us who can’t get our first a chance to have one too! 
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…and maybe z Plus likewise. I’ll take a used Z plus if anyone wants to get an HDZ 4.0
Is there a need for a Buy and Sell section?
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I have been looking into the HDZ, with the suck it dust boot. It appears previously adding the dust boot reduce the X-Axis work area, is this still true?
What about the Z-Plus? I want to upgrade from the belt drive, but am having a hard time deciding. I will be cutting aluminum in the near future.
Certain 3rd party dust shoes reduce the machine travel of an HDZ to match that of a belt drive or Z-Plus machine.
The Z-Plus has the same movement as a belt drive and dust options seem to not change that.