CHL. I like you, and your input is thoughtful. The milling
we have seen is just not up to our (or our doctors) standards. I am sure your work is better than what we have around here. You are right about the eyes though.
Our desired outcome is different from most. We have a lab because we don't plan to make a pile of money (no hires!). We like precision hand work, I have to laugh because our business model is almost exactly the opposite of normal. The benefits of all our bad choices is many. No commute, no a-hole boss, no destructive co-workers, luxuriously quiet mornings, adequate money, no rent/mortgage (we spent 30+ years preparing for this). I am still waiting for the 'I have arrived' feeling. I am pretty sure that won't happen haha.
I totally understand your viewpoint. I just won't spend tens of thousands on a machine that will be obsolete in a year (we would have to expand in order to pay the loans and volume requirements),just to be tied to dongle fees and upgrades. Not to mention a Big Brother type relationship with the manufacturer. On the other hand I would love to learn CAD. I love computers and the 3-D stuff would be awesome! I don't mind the learning curve.
In all sincerity, I am not trying to piss you off.