My introduction to machining, back my senior year of high school, was lathe and shaper. I didn't get to play with the milling machines, but also know that shapers can do most things the mills can do, and a couple of things they can't. With really cheap tooling, unlike a mill. I have loved them ever since. To the point where I have 3 lathes, 2 milling machines, and a shaper, among many other things, and would buy a larger one if I could find one I could afford and shoehorn into my shop. Yep. YMMV!

And not to say your reasons aren't perfectly valid, either! Good and sufficient. Though I can really see wanting it TOMMOROW! I've actually had my shaper for several years, having bought it as a restoration project, and it's been put on the back burner so many times I lost count a few years ago. A few weeks ago, I made a new countershaft for it, but discovered I'd lost the bearing housing for the countershaft, and I've been looking for it as I juggled stuff in the workshop room. Found it last night! Now I have to punch out the bearing and get replacements. Hopefully Monday. But that may go by the wayside again, too. Frankly, I've got too much stuff in too little space, and some of it needs to go elsewhere. I've got a 10x14 metal shed in the back yard that also needs repairs, and some of the stuff can go out there once it's fixed. I figure to put the "dirty" stuff out there. Grinders, saws, etc. I have stuff juggled around enough now that I can see that I might be able to fit everything "clean" in the space I have inside the house now. Maybe.

Bill