My Nichols lathe is elegant in its simplicity. From what I understand, there were about 150 of these lathes made from the mid-1990's to early 2000's by John Nichols in Oregon. All the items on it can be sourced from machinery suppliers (such as the pillow block bearings) or customed by a welder. You can fill the headstock side with sand to really anchor it down. It can turn up to 39" in diameter, and mine has a hoist with it (1 1/2 " iron pipe with bend that drops into a hole on the head stock side). I did keep my first lathe (Delta 12" midi, Christmas gift from my wife) and do pens and small items on it. It sits right behind my Nichols lathe.
Whomever purchases that lathe will enjoy the heck out of it, and find that there is nothing that you cannot do on it. Plus you would own a piece of American woodturning history. And if space is an issue, you could easily mount a midi on the lathe bed, and emplace or remove it with a hoist.