I like the idea.
It would be nice to have a purchase option at the end of the lease though, Many folks may think like Alan about the cost difference between renting this one for 2 years,paying almost $11K on the high side and not owning an arm. Maybe setting up a conventional Payment plan would work, It would probably have a lot of interested folks, but there would have to be some way of securing payment with back up credit cards, credit checks , etc..added interest, etc..
Not everyone who wants an arm has the funds to buy it in one payment, if you get a loan from a bank, what will the loan cost you with interest when your paid off?
A good idea definitely if folks could have a percentage of the lease be used towards the arm at lets say the current selling price of the arm, sort of a "Lease the arm for 2 years and XX% of your payments go towards the purchase price of $XXXXX when your done". And the Arm price is locked when you start your lease. Protecting current leases against possible price increases during the lease term.
A good idea, but risky for Steadyrig if the purchaser stops paying and doesn't return the arm., Not that it would happen, but Ya gotta try and think of everything.
PS. I've used this arm and it's very very nice, very smooth. and I have taken it completely apart and back together on the kitchen table, everything is made well, and the step by step instructions on the site are detailed and give you the confidence to take this on with no worries.