I too spent months agonising over which lathe when I wanted to move up from my used record Power DML-36-SH-MK2, it was a two bar bed which wasn't great for rigidity if any wood was out of balance. That only became apparent after a couple of years and I'd developed more skills and trying bigger stuff and bowls in particular.
I set out first what was it I liked to turn, what I'd learned I did and didn't like about the DML-36-SH-MK2 and set them down?
So it was bowls, rotating headstock (as the DML), variable speed (DML had only 4 speeds and a faf to change constantly), cast iron bed and a midi size (DML could take 38" between centres and I never made anything over 15", so it ate up space)
Then went from there.
I finally chose the Coronet Herald, with bench feet not the legs, the banjo extension/outrigger for bowl turning and the extra emergency stop button.
I've had it about 8 months now, and its done everything I've thrown at it very well, from turning rings and pens right up to a 19" diameter x 2 1/2" oak bowls.
What do I like about? Everything.
Have I had any problems? Nope
Does it have any niggles? Yes, one that bugged me was realigning headstock after swivelling it, its index stop is a bit off by a tiny amount, probably due to tolerances. But I bought a double ended 2MT alignment bar, it takes seconds now to perfectly align it each time, so no longer a problem.
Would I recommend it, 100% yes,
ls it right lathe for you, depends purely on what you intend to make, now and in the future.
Only you can decide that, but as a piece of kit I think its excellent.
