One doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles, it's just all the extras that make a LA out of reach, like 27.000.00more or less.
Consider that your quilt, when quilted on one of those bells and whistles deals, will end up being a quilt made by two people and i wouldn't stand for that one bit lol.
I have a Gammill and wouldn't live without it as I want my quilt quilted when I am done. My LA has a regulated stitch and that's it and that is all that I need. If you have been quilting your quilt on your regular machine, you already know how to manuver a quilt.
A simple regulated stitch LA is all that is needed and you can freehand to your delight. I belive the machine I have cost about 14,000.00? I think...it's the Optium with the bigger throat.
This machine already comes with a lot of goodies. It has a laser for pantograph, the round wheel in the center for circles, guides for straight lines of stitching, it has a horizontal lock and a virtical lock and lots of extras for the money. I haven't even used what I have. It is delivered and set up by the dealers and then you are trained for several hours, it's no big deal.
My machine already payed for itself by the quilts I have quilted and my customers love my freehand quilting and besides, they don't have to say quilted by me never! They made the quilt, the credit is theirs.
Having a LA is such a plus if you quilt a lot like I do.