It’s a fairly simple solution to a fairly simple problem.
It’s a fairly simple solution to the problem of making a single cup of filter coffee, and I would say it’s better at that (cleaner brew, less clearing up) than a cafetiere, but it is not in any way an espresso maker.
(and yes I have tried it using proper espresso grind and proper espresso water volume, it just really is not the same thing)
I’ve played with a handpresso (a mate has one). It makes something much closer to espresso than an aeropress, but an aeropress makes a better quality filter coffee than a handpresso makes espresso, if that makes sense…