Epilators are great!
For sure it hurts first, but you get used to it if you use it regularly. I don't say it becomes a pleasure.. but it's more bearable
I absolutely hate hair!! I don't like shaving, more you shave more the hair grows! Getting it done professionally is expensive if you go every two or three weeks! So for me it really is the best option.
They are not all equals though.. some rip off the hair instead of pulling it out depending on the mechanism. I have one from the brand Philips, and for me it's the best. When my first epilator (Philips) died I bought the Silk-epil from Braun, I didn't really like it because the hair was ripped off, but I kept it for 7 years (and it still works perfectly) because it was expensive and I wanted it to pay for itself
Then I really got tired and went back to Philips last year.. heaven!!!! I regret waiting so long to dump my silk-epil
I use it every week-week and a half on my armpits and legs, they didn't see a razor for 10 years now!! So now the hair grows very thin and soft, you don't even see it till it's pretty long. For the bikini I go to the spa but still use a little bit the epilator on the less sensitive zones.
I come from France and when I moved to the US I was really surprised to see that they are not so popular. To me at least, it's the best option. It might be a little expensive but I highly recommend it cause you buy it once and can use it forever (or almost)