Delta Midi
I bought a Delta Midi a year ago, just before Jet came out with the variable speed model. I have been very happy and I am sure it has several hundred hours it, with no mechanical downtime. At times I wish I had the Jet VS but truth is it only takes a few seconds to change speeds now and I rarely need to do it on any one project. At club meetings I have used both the Jet and the Delta, couldn't tell you any advantage of one over the other.
Actually you will rapidly find that the initial lathe is the cheapest part of woodturning anyway. The chuck I bought for it cost almost as much as the lathe, plus about 4-5 good lathe tools will cost more than the lathe. Then there is the cost of pen spindles, pen press, drill chuck, better tool rests, and dozens of other items that you will just "have" to buy. If the big companies like Woodcraft and Craft Supplies were smart they would randomly give lathes away to woodworkers, I am sure that they would make their money back on accessories sales!
I thought when I bought the midi it would do all that I wanted. I have made lots of pens, bottle stoppers, kaliedoscopes, and all those other small projects. Then I tried to turn some bowls and really found it to be much more a challengs and therefore more enjoyable. I have rapidly outgrown the midi in size and ability to control slow speed. I hope this fall to upgrade to a bigger (and more $$$) lathe, but I still won't part with the midi.
Have fun, Ray