Why I use vintage sewing machines

So let's start with me confessing that I'm a self taught seamstress. I learned as an adult on a plastic, late 1990's Brother. My second machine was a early 2000's plastic Singer. Why this boring time line of my machines? Because I'm thinking that I'm not the only one out there that has this sewing machine story. I want to encourage others to experience the joy (and frustration😉) of vintage machines! Fast forward to my first vintage machine, the Necchi bu!  I bought her from a Craigslist ad knowing pretty much nothing about them, all I knew it that it was $75 and I could fit it in the back of my Jeep. It was out of necessity. I had heard that I could free motion quilt on one of these and I just had to try!  I was intimidated by the lack of plastic, the weight, everything! So I made my first mistake, I took it to be serviced at the local sewing machine shop. Three weeks and $100 later it was ready, I was excited! They had no idea what they were doing. Belt replaced, oiled, light changed. Pretty much it. I paid more for the servicing then the machine! Never again, I vowed to learn how to service my own machines. Yes, but why do I prefer them?  They are almost completely maintainable by anyone, sturdy, will out perform pretty much any new machine, and they look awesome! Not to mention that they are very affordable, with the exception of the Singer featherweight and a few other cult classics. I have sewn through multiple layers with out a problem, made everything from quilts to garments. They just don't make them like they used to.