I just got my Queen Quilter 18 the end of March. I'd been using a longarmer for several years, as I didn't have the time to do it myself. (I was an over the road truck driver & time home was very limited.) Now that I've retired, I have the time & desire to expand my horizons. I've done several quilts now & learn something with each one. Yes, there's a learning curve, but we're constantly learning new techniques & ways to accomplish the looks we want in our quilts. This just takes it one step further. I've so far only done my own quilts, but will probably doing for others when I feel more comfortable with my skills. If you're considering purchasing a longarm, do some math, as was suggested earlier, to determine if it is cost feasible. Consider where you're going to put it, & how much time you're willing to devote to learning. Yes, it's expensive to purchase & maintain, but to me it's worth the effort.