I have a longarm about 5 years now with the regulated stitch. I had one quilt done by a professional and it came back quilted very nicely but reaking of smoke. Thank God it washed out. It was for my sister.
I made up my mind then, that I just had too many tops to be quilted and intended to make more quilts so why not get my own machine.
It payed for itself by doing other peoples quilts too.