I had a $3500 Italian gelato machine at the Oakroom...
Started having problems right after it came out of warranty.
Never could manage to get it fixed properly, so i brought in our machine from home.
I used one of these with 3 bowls in rotation through the freezer.
Never was as nice as the expensive machine was (when working properly), but it more than got the job done.
I literally had to run 3 batches a day to keep up with sorbet for intermezzo courses, in addition to any ice creams I was using on desserts, and another we used on a salad.
Cuisinart® Ice Cream/Yogurt Maker - WhitePoint being:
It gets the job done, and It's affordable.