I love the way you put this. I bought a frame a year ago; it is only large enough to do lap/baby quilts. The store had got it to teach on but alot of students had problems distinguishing how it was like a large one just smaller. I got it for just under 400 and then I got a Viking mega quilter. I love the mega quilter. I figured it would be a good way to practice and see how I liked it before I made a large investment. I have yet to quilt anything on it. I'm in the middle of setting up my sewing room and my goal is too start doing quilting. I think it's crazy to do the quilt and since I can't afford to send it out; it is either STID or not at all. I just finished the trip around the world and it is so pretty and I'm going to quilt it. Not on the frame but I'm going to quilt it. I have the problem that I am smart but don't have the confidence to do things without being shown. A friend loaned me her book on machine quilting and it has lessons in it; which I'm doing. She helped me decide how to do the quilt so I feel better. The only classes around here for machine quilting are on Sun. which I work and I have found none on doing Long Arm. I just know that this is the year that I step up and add something else to what I love to do. Maybe one day then I'll get a big girls frame. Thanks for the advice for all of us wanta -be's