I bought a small Bosch shredder to shred hedge cuttings. They make an excellent mulch on flower beds, and break down in a year or two, much faster than otherwise I’m sure. But it is a pain as it takes a lot of time to shred woody matter. A colleague bought a used one, a higher end model, for a good price, which seems to be a good approach assuming it is in good condition.
Regarding composting, I was surprised how much warmth was in my dalek (plastic composter) when I took the lid off on a decidedly frosty day. It does suggest a hot composter might not be such an advantage.