long arm quilters do free motion quilting all the time- i don't quite get your question-
whether you are doing free motion quilting with your domestic machine- a mid arm or a long arm- it is still free motion quilting-
the basic difference is when using your long arm you are moving the fabric around when using a mid arm or long arm the fabric is loaded onto a frame and your are moving the machine-
they all take practice- so as far as the learning curve- it just depends on each individual person- how much you practice- and how patient you are learning the process.