Originally Posted by
Jim Becker
Unless you're buying a lower-end, mass market J/P, you wouldn't be compromising quality...just the opposite in many cases, unless you're buying really high end separates as an alternative. As to change-overs...it really isn't an issue as has been discussed many times in the General Woodworking and Power Tools forum over the years. It typically takes a minute at the most and most folks learn new, more efficient working habits that reduce the need to actually change over with any frequency. Both of these potential issues are more "myth" than reality. :) I wouldn't give up my J/P for separates unless I somehow won the lottery and could buy really big, high-end separates and a building to put them in. LOL That said, this certainly is a personal preference decision and if you feel more comfortable with separate tools, that's a great choice!
BTW, on your latest diagram you show your planer at an angle. That can be "interesting" if your garage has a typical sloped floor... ;) I have to deal with said floor in my shop which was originally a 3.5 car garage built by the previous property owners. I have to keep all my tools either with the slope or perpendicular to the slope (and block for level). Angles didn't work well at all...