Not rich, the obsession keeps that in check. its a new machine here, a couple of used machines there, old machinist selling up, small plants going out of business, estate sales and auctions. I’m good at buying, but terrible at selling.
About 50% of my shop output is work related (which helps off set the costs), I make new parts and repair old parts, for the company I work for, the rest is strictly hobby related. I make tooling and jigs, repairs on cars, lawn mowers, snowblowers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats and whatever else is needed. I‘m strictly metal working based, no wood working.
I believe the major drive for home shops is self reliance, why hire someone to repair something, when you are capable yourself. As previously stated we stated as a British colony, where the industrial revolution started, but I believe, the US, started out largely as a farming based economy, and you needed to be self reliant, you need it fixed then and now. For a lot of us that self reliant gene is alive and well.
I have a Keller 4 x 6 power hacksaw, a Milwaukee 14” dry cut saw, a Rockwell/Delta 14“ vertical metal cutting bandsaw, a 7” and a 9” metal cutting circular saw, a Milwaukee sawzall, a Milwaukee porta-band saw, a Wilton 9” cold cut saw, a Milwaukee chop saw, a HEM small drop band saw and a Wilton 7 x 12 drop band saw.