Thursday I went and purchased a CHEAP ($80) Brother machine for
my daughter, picked up a few other things for her, such new cutting
mat (everything I have is wearing out), some cheap (.97) fat quarters,
a folding 6ft table and 4 drawer plastic storage bin.

We spent about 4 hours teaching her how to thread the machine, etc.

We have standing plans for Wednesday after I get off work, and for
Thursday to work on teaching her more about cutting, ironing etc.

I am excited to work with her on this in the hopes she will "take" to it
and I can have a sewing partner.

This is going to be sew much fun.

I'd check with other repair shops. $170 is a really high price for a cleaning....my shop charges $125 for embroidery machines with computers but sounds like yours is not computerized. A more reasonable price might be $100 for cleaning/tuneup but if a simple, mechanical machine could be less than that.