I think lots of sewing machines get dumped, usable or not. Some people do not sew, do not want to and do not want to fool around trying to sell ithe machine(s) they have. That is just my opinion from shopping ebay, craigslist, Salvation Army stores, Goodwill, and living in a college town in the past and seeing the "trash" that has been put out. I have also worked in schools and see what gets tosseedr at the end of the year.
I think these makeovers are really creative. I would buy one.