Energy schmenergy.  Consumers conschmumers.  As you already spotted, the energy differences are almost entirely irrelevant.  And unlike a couple decades ago, so is Consumers.  When I cancelled them, the only valuable report was used-car repair records.

Hasten to add, eco schmeco.  Yes, CAL and AUS have  real water shortages.  Don't know why water is so expensive in EU, probably has to do with infrastructure financing.  US water development is heavily if not entirely subsidized (meaning, your kids will pay for it).  Bottom line, none of these highfalutin nanny agencies account for the environmental impact of landfilling 3-5yo appliances so shoddily designed and built they cannot practically be repaired.  So the whole save-the-planet ballyhoo is a sham.

Agipellers can be shown to work, a half load at a time @ 90min each, if you're willing to spend 4 days doing a week's wash that used to take 1.  Agitators are almost extinct, and lots rougher on fabric than tumblers.

Raised on a W tumbler, got back to FL when my 25yo Maytag quit in 98.  But even FLs have been eco-nazied, gizmodized, and cost reduced (NOT price though, despite the efficiency of making many more of them with common parts among many brands) to the point I wouldn't want a new one of what's on sale today.

So back to whether your quandary is justified, I'd say yes.