I live in a place where it didn't really take off like some regions. There are a few with some equipment, but whenever I really inquired it was kind of "we have it, but nobody can use it themselves".

I totally understand though. People don't realize how expensive precision metalworking stuff is. And that's before you start to insure the place.

For something like a really rigid CNC (not a desktop sized one or for wood), someone needs to come up with a reasonable cost machine that can hold thous and has a spindle that isn't stupidly overpriced.