Yes, all that above plus the price premium. An E/M sits at the top of a very popular and pricey lathe name. Billtodd mentioned the digital alternative which was about $3500 the last time I looked. It is a step more convenient than the E/M and cuts a wider variety of pitches. Even tapers. Very sexy.
If you are making custom threads all day long in a time-is-money business, an E/M would have been the best choice in a Hardinge 30 years ago. There are better alternatives now.
If a guy just wants a sexy machine, the E/M is it.
If a guy just wants to cut English and metric threads there are two other choices, as far as I know.. Assuming you have an English machine, there is a metric banjo that can be outfitted with the 22dp 100 to 127 translation gears and specific pitch gears. I see the parts come available occasionally. They tend to be very expensive and make the digital conversion attractive.
The other alternative is the standard Hardinge banjo outfitted with off-the-shelf 20dp change gears. The system uses 37 to 47 translation gears. I can cut all standard metric pitches with 7 gears that I bought from the local AIT for $292.82 last February. When I want to cut English pitch, I just loosen the banjo bolt and let the assembly swing down out of the way. When cutting metric and the banjo assembly is engaged, the standard width door even shuts. Very sexy in a more mature older woman that knows what she likes, knows what you like and takes her time kind of way.
There is a large thread on this site by a guy named Peter. There is enough info to put together the 37-47 set. I will help if you have questions. Otherwise, get an E/M. They're expensive but they're sexy.
