Never crossed my mind, that a bench mill would compare to a knee mill. Quality and durability.. Learn the limitations and adjust, can and will produce predictable and repeatable quality.
Durability, is on the user I've known people that can destroy a hammer. What i just said is unless someone misuses or abuses a tool. They will run for a good while.
More of these kind of things are directly controlled by the owners. As one that services cars, you know exactly to what I speak.
I am seeing one of those 3 lamp, pole lamps hanging up and to the left. I turned one into a drop light of sorts, using LED bulbs. Really came in handy rebuilding the windows and regulators in the coupe last year.
Chinese quality Pep -- I have a similar (but more basic round column) machine from HF. They do what they are designed to do, but quality and durability was always an afterthought. Good luck!
....The HF has a geared drive ?
Yes, for years HF sold a red colored geared head mill/drill with a round column. It cost a few shekels more than the standard "green" belt driven model, but was much easier to control on heavy cuts.
Works well enough for my needs, but definitely NOT something you'd see in a professional shop.