You've received some really good insights here.
I find that I am much more of a "dabbler" when it comes to longarming. I like to work away at it for awhile and then I won't do anything to it for a few days. That's my style and when I rented time at a shop, I found it really stressful. (Hence, why I have my own.) Now...my set up is a pretty cheap, all manual one. Maybe if I had a fancy one I'd do more, more often.
I do believe taking a class is a great idea and then do the rental thing as well just to see if you even like doing it.
Watson