Personally I think you get what you pay for. Pay for a 30 dollar machine you are most likely putting out 30 dollar tattoos. I can say that my tattooing is effected by the tools I use. My lines are much cleaner lining with a 500 dollar stigma than they are with a 75 dollar stealth. My shading is much smoother with a 35 dollar a box set of needles from needle jig than they are from a 20 dollar a box from mithra. Yes I can tattoo with most machines, and most needles, but why do that to myself or my clients. at 100 , 125, 150 an hour, we should be able to afford some decent tools to work with. And honestly, If I only had one stigma, dan kubin, swash drive or special technique I could do most tattoos quite well. If you are buying a knock off of any of these machines, most of you are turning out crap tattoos. And thats the real shame here. you could be a much better tattooer if you gave yourself a fighting chance.