I've seen some anecdotal evidence that people who have been on finasteride/dutasteride for ages and then stop, they don't lose hair. I know it goes against all science about "catch up hair loss" but we don't know everything. It could be that they have a minor hair loss pattern but I think the follicles in these individuals are sufficiently healed without DHT all these years and will take a lot longer to strangle them again. There's also the possibility that the individual has hypgonadism and low levels of male hormones after treatment - obviously unlikely.
I didn't really need it as I'm not diffuse but I was wary from the start. It's a fact it's bad for skin in oral form - shown in studies. In topical form it's more mild but using it daily and some of it goes systemic - won't exactly be great for skin. There have been some long term members who've shown before and after pictures with evidence.Under the eyes and face seems to have puffiness. It doesn't happen always though. I think another fact that put me off was seeing surgeons research using minoxidil as an injectable to prevent excessive scar formation post surgery. That shows it's a powerful collagen inhibitor.