What size wood lathe do I need as a beginner?

Across the reviewers we read, most beginners are best served by a midi lathe in the 10"–12" swing range with 15"–21" between centers. That size handles pens, spindles, and small bowls without the cost and footprint of a full-size machine. Specialist communities like r/turning consistently warn that the smallest sub-$100 mini lathes are underpowered for anything beyond pen turning.