My main machine is a quilting machine (Janome 6600), so it doesn't even have a free arm. It's set down into the table and for me that's a big deal, I'm much more comfortable sewing that way and my quilt gets hung up much less often. I bought a SewPerfect table and I LOVE it. It's expensive but it's built rock solid and will probably last longer than the machine will.
If I need a free-arm, I can use one of my portable machines, but I don't sew garments so that's not an issue. I can sew small circular things like hot cup cuffs on my 6600 without a free arm just by bending it around a bit so it doesn't seem all that necessary. (In fact those cuffs won't fit over my free arm anyway so it's completely moot for that particular project.)