PM is the only vendor that actually does good quality control that I found. I have tested the warranty and my lathe issues were fixed, had zero issues with the mill. I also have been happy with the PM accessories, the cutting/turning tool holders are better than the average China specials you get off ebay or LMS. They are a good deal IMO.
I would go with a 10" or bigger lathe for home use. Get it up high, don't lean over the lathe. Controls need to be at your waist, save your back! I have my main lathe on a cast iron stand sitting on custom risers with large leveling feet, its set up for my 6'-4" body. You do want the room inside the spindle too. Avoid the tight crap. You want to be able to put a long 3/4" or 1" OD drill rod or even a rifle barrel through the machine.
Grizzly has decent specs sometimes, but nothing like PM. LMS are nothing special from my experience, just generic basic machines. But, LMS has good support overall. The 12" machines are much more rigid and budget friendly than the baby bench top lathes, but 10" is a decent compromise with a VFD and DRO set up. You get the bells and whistles for about the same money as a basic 12x36. 13" and bigger are a whole different class usually. Be aware of how the chucks attach also, the cheap and lighter machines are harder to change. You will need to get a 4 jaw probably or higher quality chucks and I do change them occasionally. You want the easy to change machines. VFD makes things much easier especially for a novice.