80% lowers can be finished with a drill press or a router. Use the jig appropriate to the tools you have on hand. No need to pay $2K+ for 80% work at all. I do know some places sell 0% blocks of aluminum, that kind of work may require more than just a drill press and the mill may be appropriate.
So can you pay $2K+ to get the tools to produce a superb product? Yes. Can you pay under $200 to get the same functional results but maybe not as perfectly finished. Yes. Far be it for me to tell someone how to spend that kind of money on a fun hobby. If you want to do it then yes by all means go ahead, but if you have a more modest budget then there are other options that produce the same functionality.
http://www.cotep.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14700
http://www.cotep.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14849