Finally came to the end of the quest and now I am at the decision to choose which reward I want. I can't decide between the crown and the staff. My character is a Battlemage so these two probably benefit me more than the shield because I do not use block. I am really leaning toward the Staff because summoning Automatons seems pretty cool. But I am now sure how useful they will be, in the long run. If it isn't as useful as I thought it as, then I will be going for the Crown.

Anyone have any experience with the staff to tell whether it's good or not?

Which quest?

The only quest with an Aetherium Forge.

I chose the crown because well unlimited dead army with the ritual stone.

The staff svcks, it summons weak automatons. The crown lets you pick any two standing stones to enjoy. And as mentioned above the undead army is very nice to have.

Crown is more powerful IMO. I'd rather have two standing stones than be able to summon an automaton.

The Staff isnt great, it summons 1 automation at a time and they can be quickly dispatched. The crown will benifit you more as a mage where you can get the likes of the mage and ritual stones.

Crown... definitely the Crown.

It's great for Assassin's as well.

The crown.
I've managed to have two active Standing Stones...and the crown is not even being worn.
It's on a shelf in my home. And, yes, the two Stones are still active.

Well, the staff requires a bit of luck. It can summon spiders, spheres, or random Dwemer junk. The spheres are pretty powerful, especially if you have the perk for 100 Conjuration. I used the Sanguine Rose with the staff for some very funny battles.

The crown definitely has the best enchantment. I just wish I liked the way it looks. I don't really like any of the circlets, i wish they made circlets without gems.

Well, having this advice earlier would have helped! Either way, I picked the Crown anyway. It's benefits were unique, and why summon automatons when I could just some Dremora Lord.

Most of my characters go for the crown. I don't have many shield-bearers, and the shield looks horrendous with full daedric. And the effect -seems- nice, but I'm trying to kill things attacking me, not make them invincible.
Staff has situational uses, and according to some of the posts here, it doesn't even summon very useful Spheres.

So generally speaking, go with the crown.

.... if you use the crown to get a second stone, then take it off.... what happens? Do you lose the second stone effect?

You lose the one the crown gave you, and then you get it back when you put it on.

I like putting the Steed Stone on the crown. Very convenient.