this is not a piece of equipment suited to a small scale private farmer, though. this machine is for someone to whom acreage represents a block on a spreadsheet.
This statement is not accurate. Everyone summer I visit my friend's farm in central Illinois. Three people are responsible for farming 1000 acres. I've seen tractors and combines that are the size and cost of the 8R in the shed. This is a very normal and common family farm (though incorporated). Many of the farms in the area are this size and operated by private farmers.