Homesteader does seem to be in business. Their website is
http://www.thequiltingsolution.com and they have shows scheduled through 2014. This is not nearly as well-known a brand as other quilting setups such as Bailey, etc.
Can you try out the Homesteader before buying? I don't know much of anything about Homesteader, but I did find this QB thread that indicates it is a decent machine:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...m-t207535.html
You need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the two purchases. Personally, the small quilting space afforded by a Juki on a frame would be a *huge* disadvantage to me. However, it would be a safe way to find out if you enjoy moving the machine instead of the quilt. If you decide you don't like it, you could use the Juki for piecing or easily sell it used as it is a very well-known machine. If you decide you do like machine quilting, you will quickly be itching for more harp space after quilting a few large quilts and will want to upgrade.
The advantage of the Homesteader is that, if you find you like machine quilting on a frame, it should last you quite awhile before you would want to upgrade. The disadvantage is that Homesteader is not a well-known brand, so selling this setup could be more difficult. A lot depends on the price. If it is in working order with a stitch regulator and frame and price is under $1,000, then I would consider that a great opportunity for an entry-level longarm setup.