That requirement would stop me. I don't have time to have to travel to take classes (and requiring me to take a class to purchase something would just irritate me - I can make my own decisions, thank you very much). And it seems that if they want to require classes, they have to hold them in more places rather than expect you to travel several states away. In this economy, they should be making it as easy as possible for you to choose their product.
I know the whole situation would be off-putting enough for me to decide against the Gammill, but that's just me. If you really think it's a better choice for you, see if they can offer the classes in one trip, perhaps two days in a row so you could make one trip. It might mean an extra night in a hotel but save lots of time and gas.
Good luck - let us know what you decide. Either way, you'll get a great machine and that's exciting!