wow, you have some good questions and I am sure you will get many good opinions. I tend to stick with the rulers vs. the machines. I love the shape cutter - use it alot. I have some Eleanor Burns rulers, omnigrid rulers, many sizes. I would say that you might end up with some project specific rulers, not that there's anything wrong with that, and if you make that kind of project more than once you will be set. Good luck. I'll be watching here to see what everyone says.