when i only had one machine- when it went to the (shop) for repairs/service i was with out a machine for 2 weeks!!!
had to go find a back up-
now i have a (travel machine) too- a small simple one that's easy to take to classes ect.
but that one in the closet- that only comes out on rare occassions---that one's the most important one--without it i'm limited to hand stitching if my (real-machine) needs a break :)