I have the same mill. I stole it. Paid $300. Does everything I need it to do. The only complaint, as mentioned before, is due to being a round column you lose reference when you raise or lower the head. So you need to think out your operations to avoid raising the head.
I found the saving...
I need a table mainly little stuff to weld or dissemble of usually oily and/or covered in mud items. I noticed a stainless steel kitchen table and was thinking I could weld on that too. I was also checking out the little welding table at Harbor Freight.
Building a fancy welding table is out...