Just browsing tonight and saw your posts.. Along about 2004, I got really interested in the Plasmacam product, enough that I sent 'em 10 bucks for their videotape, joined forums dedicated to that type of product and started planning for a building (I did end up with the 14'x 40'x 46' barn). Things that really got me thinking seriously were material handling (4'x8' 1/4 plate is heavy!), storage and then the big kicker - plasma cutting is dirty, even with a good water table under the unit, skirting and ventilation, it still needs a space pretty much dedicated to that function. Note that I do have a good (Hypertherm) small plasma cutter and still use it when I'm fabbing things up, but in the end, I couldn't justify the 12 -14 grand startup and use of the barn space.
I did get a chance to straighten out a Tracker unit that a buddy of mine had bought with another business partner. The unit was replaced by a GE laser cutting system (cutting parts for restaurant furniture) and my friend ended up with it. I spent a lot of time getting the thing working - the PC was flaky and the table itself was pretty cheesy (IMHO !). Don listed it on E-Youknowwhat and it sold pretty quickly - I tried to get him to sell it without the 60 amp Hyperthem, but it all went as a package and honestly, I was glad to see it go - the low end stuff doesn't stand up to life in a welding environment (again IMHO)..