Your response is spot on. I have used my 175SP+ to make several things from paint lock sheet metal. One was a catch pan for my washing machine, which needed to be an odd size. I don't know if one of the "steps" would have done it, or the old, "one's too hot and one's too cold" thing. The use of the machine has a lot to do with its selection in the first place, and as I never know what I'm going to run into, I like to buy for all situations.
But that's just me.
Steve