Thank you all for your help! I did start by visiting Bob, he didn't have anything in stock at the time and said he rarely gets these machines in but 1-2 a year used. The new price appears to be very competitive, but for a hobbyist I'm just not able to tie over $2,000 into a cowboy machine, which is what led me to look on here at used machines and found one at a local holster company that they obtained new for doing wallets.
I know there is a ton to learn like with every hobby so I'm trying to do as much research as possible prior to jumping in to avoid making the wrong decision. Because even at $1000 for this like new Cobra 18, that's a significant investment especially if its the wrong investment.