Okay, what your are saying is almost same as what my friends said; the story seems a bit confusing and there are many Miyazaki-movie aspects in this movie, for example, as you said typical machines, atmostphere of the town in Majo no Takkyubin, etc, but my friends didn't really look excited, they said the movie was good though.
I'll see myself some day, not soon,,,, it's a pity,,,