Are you buying a tool, or a hobby?
I basically let some folks talk me into buying a 1965 South Bend Heavy 10 instead of a newer 10-12" Griz...
Well, I'm still working on it, getting stuff right, and now it's looking like I'm going to be putting a new chuck on it.
Yeah, parts for the SB are available, but so are parts for the Griz, and with the Griz I'd be making parts instead of learning about the internals of the machine.
Now I'm out to the shop to measure the thing's belt pulleys so that I can order a leather belt for it...