While a laser is a tempting toy to be sure, it's not in my future. They're so expensive that you basically need to have them running non-stop to pay for themselves and the electricity they drink. Plus, I live in a condo, which imposes limitations on setup (most of them require external venting, and some need dedicated 220 volt service). It would become something of a monkey on my back, and I'd have to look at everything in terms of what I can cut with it. Even though there's likely room in the marketplace, I don't want to become yet another laser shop. I want to have the freedom to innovate, to explore all manner of methods and materials, rather than have to constantly feed the beast. Thus I'll be farming out my laser work for the foreseeable future. As it is, I'm collaborating with a laser artist (in every sense of the word) to develop some innovative new approaches to product design. It's very exciting work that, ironically, wouldn't be possible if I had my own laser, given that I'm a one-man shop.
Oh, and a laser cannot cut more than one object at a time. If you have a perfectly plain shape, with no surface detailing (bricks, boards, etc.), you can stack the material, but that's very rare in laser kits, and usually more trouble than its worth since it involves additional materials and different setups. And all lasers have lifetimes. Gas lasers are a lot like cars; they need servicing at regular intervals, as well as periodic major overhauls.
