Side note: MM prop shop on youtube just did a video comparing all the printers she’s been using lately and it felt very honest and accurate. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zLrxY3G3Zi8

I just received a Kobra 3 combo. I’m very impressed with the quality of the machine and the prints. My Voron 2.4 is still my go-to. I’ve heard a lot of good things about qidi lately.

Mostly purge and to make sure the bed is level. I don’t bother with it personally. I will use a brim on occasion is i’m printing something significantly taller than it is wide

Z

The printer doesn’t really matter. The slicer is what is os specific and most any slicer will work with Linux these days. It’s easier if you find a slicer with a premade profile for your printer but not a big deal. I’ve used prusa slicer for years with my printers (creality, voron, biqu, elegoo). Find a printer that’s in your budget and meets your needs then see what slicers have a profile for that. For modern printers klipper is a big plus. I just got a kobra 3 and it’s a decent machine. My ender 5 has been a workhorse but there are better printers these days. I don’t know enough about bamboo labs but they seem to be the new fad (well… sorta new now).

I’ll take it! I love my trodon 2.0. It hasn’t missed a beat. I’ve been running it nonstop for about a year.