All of you are speaking to me. I'm in the same leaky boat. I've said for years that I needed to hire a person to stand behind me with a whip to keep me going.
Back when I was working and had $$ I bought everything. Longarm, sewing machine cabinet, fabric by the bolt. I even took the apartment next to where I live and made a huge sewing area. There it sits, and here I sit. I'm lousy at piecing too. So I analysed it and realized, with the help of those here, that I had a machine with free arm, and I needed one with a big bed. So I got that. Now that does not fit in my Amish maple sewing cabinet.
I'm going to post pictures of the options the carpenter gave me. You are not alone Crispy Frog, not alone at all. Maybe we need a group!