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The single box units are far from ideal. But I use mine only a few days a year, I can drown out the noise with banging tunes and yodelling, and it occupies dead space which I wouldn't use for anything else.
I've got one at work too, with the exhaust shoved up the chimney. I suspect its effects are minimal, but I'm pretty sure Lincoln's Inn wouldn't be keen on me drilling holes in the walls and plonking a condenser unit on their Grade II listed stonework, so there's not really any better options.
Yeah I think there’s mileage in these things but like you say the noise and footprint could be problematic.