Good topic! I was experiencing the same dilemma - lots of $ for a LAQ and very little "return on investment" for a hobby - yes, I'm an accountant by trade. Finally came to the conclusion, with a lot of help from my hubby that since this is my relatively new passion to explore to its fullest, we have the $, I should buy one. I retire in 8 months, so we'll be selecting and buying my new machine at this year's Houston Quilt Festival. I'm pumped! Bottom line, buy your LAQ, enjoy and look forward to your new adventures.