I went in with a friend and purchased my LA. After pricing a king-size custom quilt LA'd I figured I would have 1/6 of it paid for with just the one quilt and considering I was going to do at least 5 queen-size that same year; I knew it would pay for itself in no time.
Ask yourself: How many quilts do you make a year
What are the sizes you make the most
Would you want a computer and stitch regulator
Are you at an age where you have many years of quilting ahead
Are you prepared to pay for special supplies (quilting thread $10 to $20 per spool), bobbins, needles,
rulers, pantos, etc.
And most of all: Do you have the room for machine
This is everything I thought of before deciding to purchase.