All that fits well with "what I read in the funny papers", online research-wise, which is all I have.
Brass-tacks time:
Whether from leading a low-stress life, or of benefit of prior renovations along the way, if it is a good runner, what better - or even what "other" - options are there, "mile high" area anyway?
60" 'tween centres? 2" spindle bore? And "only" 9 feet overall?
Long-headed Pacemaker or DS&G are less space-efficient. Cazeneuve HBX-360-BC is three feet shorter @ six feet o/a, but has ony 30" c-to-c, nominally, and that reduced to but 27" with the capstan TS.
The shop may have to be "diagonalized" or something, yes.
OTOH, that also means you can tackle work a 20", 30", or even 40" c-to-c work-envelope lathe could not even think about.
Even so.. do you NEED it? Do you have work FOR it? Is the extra capacity used only ever-so rarely worth the space - and power - budget all-year? How about greater ration of funds tied-up in the scarcer and more costly nose-art than a smaller machine uses?
Now for the fun part, Miguel. You know how well-trained and experienced you are at
debating?
This time, it will be with
yourself!
May the better man win!