I've been renting Gammill Long Arms for 5 years. We started with 1 and within a year I bought a 2nd. We currently have 3 hand guided machines and 2 Statler Stitchers. Rental and classes are working well for us! We also quilt for people and charge by the inch as you described. I do find that some of my customers that rent "speed quilt" to save money as we charge $20.00 per hour. I would like to see them slow down to improve their work, not to add to my profit. But I haven't tried a different rental rate yet.....but food for thought!