I like the hunt and then the rehab too. But so far I haven't gotten to the point of adopting any of them out.
I do get attached to the ones I've really worked on, especially when all the work comes together and the machine works really nice.
But there is a limited base for sewing machines in this area. This place is economically dead. It's too small with too few people as well, and most of them wouldn't know the hand wheel from a bobbin.
I can count on one hand the sewing / quilting / repair shops here too. Very sad.
Joe