Finishing 80% lowers - I have questions

buddy of mine has finished a few at his shop and he said it's extremely easy provided you have the tools

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How much easier and faster is it to use a lathe? Is it enough to justify the cost?

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I would imagine it would be at least 100x more complicated and 10x slower if you attempted to use a lathe.

If your looking to buy a machine to do lowers, you want a MILL. And unless you intend on doing a lot of them, spending $1,500 - 3,000 on a mill is not cost effective.

Mini mills are great but the best ones are 1100.00(for 80% lowers, if you plan to mill other steel products you need a bigger mill if this is your thing go buy a used bridgeport on craigslist)
the 500.00 harbor freight one is a glorified drill press. I have seen just as good of jobs off drill presses than I have on mini mills, its all in the worker, etc. I have zero issues with either.
Use whatever tool you can to produce a functioning lower within the law, blah blah drill press or mini mill.

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I have seen just as good of jobs off drill presses than I have on mini mills, its all in the worker, etc.

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I see the tutorials all over the internet - it looks as if a drill press and an X/Y axis vice (which the HF appears to just combine into one package) can do the job - I'm just seeing that this is about a 12-hour project with a press, while it can be done in 2 hours with a mini mill. I don't know if I'm patient enough to take 12-hours, unless I really break it up into batches.

As far as the mill configuration - I see lots of recommendations for X3 to do this, suggesting that X2 machines are struggling for this project, but that really starts to amp up the cost.

Also, what about DRO options? Is that worth the convenience/precision (and lets assume that once I get into machining, I might do other things with it, but probably not.)

a friend of mine has a machine shop on maryhill road...go over and spend a couple of days fricking around and then decide whether you want to start purchasing equipment and tools...

I would love an X3 but space and cost keep me out of that. Drill press and good end mills and practice on things other than 80 paper weights.

Also, what about DRO options? Is that worth the convenience/precision (and lets assume that once I get into machining, I might do other things with it, but probably not.) ---yes absolutely worth it imo, not a necessity, but with blueprints and a dro you can get exact spec

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owner started a chain of drug stores in that area....

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Pearson?