I'm with Dunster, I bought my long-arm because I wanted to do the whole process myself and quilting on my DSM is not for me..I wish it was. I have done some quilting for others and that has helped pay for the machine, but the machine is just the start, there's classes, rulers, lights, and just all kinds of goodies to help enhance your quilting.
I bought an APQS Millennium and I do love it, but if I had it to do over, would I? Probably not. They tout the extra quilting space, well, I free-hand mostly from the front and only use, at the most 8 to 10 inches of that space. The only time I use that extra space is when I quilt from the back. The one thing that I would have to have is the stitch regulator...I love it.