I hope Nitro is not in the hospital. We use to get 15 updates a day. LOL. Anyway, I just wanted to say that stairmaster stepper is an absolute beast. If anyone needs to lose weight I don't know how for the life of me anyone could use that thing and not drop pounds. Honestly I'm not even trying to lose weight, I like to use it for the challenge and my weight won't stop dropping. Everyone I see that uses it at the gym is fit as hell. That thing won't let you be overweight for long if you use it. Seriously there is nothing like it. Just thought I would throw that out there.
I agree only because when you run actual stairs, which I use to do at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Florida, you can run so much faster. On that stairmaster I don't think I could ever run without falling off the damn thing and killing myself. I'm just saying in terms of gym equipment, it's the best. I use to love doing stadiums. Unfortunately I don't really have access to one. Stadiums are bar none the best way to get in absolute ridiculous shape.
I never grab or even touch the rails when strairmastering or treadmilling. still though all other things being equal running actual stairs is more demanding because the step isn't moving with you as you move into the step. however, when you eventually run out of actual staircase get's a whole lot easier (not a problem on stairmaster)
Plus running on actual stairs you can do sprints which absolutely kill you. I don't know how one would even try to do a sprint on the stairmaster. Of course on the plus side the angle of the steps is steeper on the stairmaster vs the steps. And like you said, going down the actual steps is a bitch so you have to work that into your routine.