The PM is $600, 5hp and 3phase pretty new and clean. I don't have 3 phase power so I'd have to invest some additional money in a phase converter. The Griz is $390, 3hp and single phase. It's an older model and will clean up without much trouble. He sold the spindles when he sold the cutters so I'd have to replace the spindle. Not a big deal, each spindle, washer and nuts has been priced at less than $25. The Griz is 4 hours further away than the PM. There are no other local options for my budget.
I don't have a need for 5hp as I won't be pushing that much material through the machine. After all, this is only a hobbyist shop. What I could do is swap the 5hp motor for the 3hp in my table saw and then put a 3hp VFD on the shaper for $280. (I already have a 5hp vfd on the TS).
At $900, this is more than I really wanted to invest in a shaper so I was wondering what advantages the PM might have over the Griz. I have a hunch that they're both the same machine, made by the same Taiwanese mfr.