wrote:

I'm thinking about getting into turning

Yep! Pick a vendor and just have your paycheck direct deposited with
them.

- just small stuff, pens,
ornaments, wine stoppers, etc.

That's what we All said.

Would it be a mistake to get a Penn
State midi lathe like this
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/tclpro.html or is it just a glorified
Harbor Freight machine. I don't see myself turning anything larger but
who knows. I'd like to get something that has a bed extension
available just in case.

Should I stick with a Delta or Jet or is the Penn State model a decent
piece of equipement?

Buy the Jet.

TIA,

Steve