Ok, do NOT go back to that same salesman. Yes you can wash anything you want in sanitary, but that doesn't mean the clothes won't suffer any damage. The cycle is primarily for bed linens, towels, and baby clothes. The only time I would really risk putting anything else in there is if it is such a bad stain you cant get out and you would otherwise toss it,and the reason being that the sanitary cycle inscreases the water temp above 150 degrees. Remember there are clothes that fade and shrink from the normal hot cycle. The other cycles are plenty good enough to get the job done though. Although I must say that unless you don't have the space then I highly recommend getting the maytag epic over the sport HT. It should be priced similarily and other than a slight lack in efficiency it's a much nicer machine.

But again, stay away from that salesmen.

Also ruins elastic.

FWIW, I've had 9400 for over two years. Superb results and no problems. I use sanitary cycle (153F) very infrequently. "Whitest whites" (127F) I use very often. Most machines with heaters include a sanitary setting along with the others. I would not buy an FL without a heater.

"Many clothing labels are overly conservative."

Big ditto on that. Can't remember the last time I purchased any fabric with a label that didn't say wash "warm" or "cold". Even stark-white, pure cotton sheets and towels.

If I crank the Danby up to 200 degrees I get super clean whites, but it does weaken the elastic in the tighty whiteys.

Sanitary cycles usually use temps around 150 and some machines go to about 200 degrees. I would only wash light, colorfast cottons on the cycle. White synthetics turn a grey color and elastics loose their elasticity with repeated washings using super hot temps. Caution is the key.