I bought one of the more inexpensive longarms 2 1/2 years ago. Life got in the way, so I have just now set it up and did my first quilt today. Ah yes, practice, practice, practice. Anyhow, I've been making quilt tops to practice on and then, of course, the "good" ones for later on. If I do all I have made, and do the ones I have fabric for, I will have roughly 60% of the cost back by not sending my quilts out. And I'm sure I will do more than just those quilts! I don't intend to hire out, because that all seems so stressful, but might rent the machine to some friends. We will see.