I live in NW OH, and there is a LQS about an hour away, that has a LA machine to rent out, used to cost $25/hr. I went there, and tried it. Although I believe I would enjoy LA-ing, I did not that day. After the very basics, I quilted a queen-size quilt, but it took me 8 hours to do it. Part of that was lack of confidence, part was lack of skill, and part was that I absolutely had to have it done by the end of that day, because it was already booked for the next two weeks. Save money at the LQS? By the time I factor in the drive time, gas, and paying for the rental, it's not even close, and mine definitely looks like it was quilted by an amateur.
I have a LA'er that does a very nice job on my quilts; for about the same amount of money or less, I can get her to do all of it for me, and she will even sew the binding for me. Until I retire, and get my own LA, I will just have her do all the quilting, leaving me time to do the piecing.