Quote Originally Posted by redmeat
That machine's a good idea, but you can save yourself a lot of $$$ by suspending the bar with chain in the power rack.
That's true, but the chain will run down your back and get in the way. This machine keeps everything out of the way and can be used for many different exercises without adjustment (Squats, curls, deadlifts, overhead presses, bench presses, rows, goodmornings, clean&press, etcetera). You can use safety stops if you want on the suspension machine.

If I were planning to buy equipment for a home gym, the suspension machine would be the first piece of equipment I'd buy, next would be an adjustable bench and finally weights (plates and dumbells).