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"Buy once, cry once."

Valid - but building a crappy first machine is a great way to learn how to build a better second machine.

corollary: buy nice, or buy twice

OTOH, I built an MPCNC router that is good enough for all my needs, and was also the cheapest solution I could find.

I not only don't want to replace it, but I bought a diode laser CNC in addition to it. I could wish that the laser had a larger bed or was more powerful, but it really can do the vast majority of what I want. I maybe eventually buy a better one, but I doubt it.

Going budget on both of these was a good move. It gave me what I wanted while not wasting money.

* Depends on how much space you have to spare.