[MPWR]

People's experiences are what they've written here. The best lathe/mill combo depends very much on you- including (but not limited to) your budget, your ambition, and what you plan to make, and what you'll tolerate in quality.

Sherline gear is fantastic for some people. Whether or not it's right for you depends on what you're likely to make (size being a decisive factor)- and only you can determine that.

A machining class is probably the very best way to get an introduction. After that, you'll have a much better idea of what questions to ask, and what the answers will mean.