Since your asking, I'll tell you what I think I would do if it were me. I would not send my wife out with a 30 year old top handle. The Micros are good saws but would I want her to have to depend on it, especially if she has a hard time starting them? No I wouldn't..
The Micro has a top mounted carb which is good but that requires a long fuel line. Its not normally a big deal for me or you but for a woman, it could be as when that saw has been sitting it might take anywhere from 5-10 pulls to get the fuel pulled up to the carb to even get a pop. Its just the way it is, once the fuel has been pulled up, they start real easy.
The fuel system also must be kept in top notch shape as well, good fuel filters, pump side diaphragms and lines. They also have a pressurized tank oiling system. There again, everything must be in good conditon. The check valves should be replaced with new which are now hard to find and that system will not tolerate any dirt or junk in it.
If you went all through one with all new fuel system and oiler parts, then yes it would give you some trouble free service for some time, but you still have a bad cold starting routine for a woman to deal with.
If it were me, and wanted a top handle for easy storage and be reliable, I would be looking at new or almost new Echos like a 360T or the Dolmars.
Mopar Mike will be along and he can give you some Dolmar models to look at, he has a dandy but I cant remember the model of it.
