So a few months back I found an EasyThreeD K7 in the ewaste bin at my work. Probably where it belongs tbh but I figured hey.. free printer. It works okay, sometimes. Usually okay for small and simple stuff, but tends to fail on anything serious. In the process, I've found my way around openSCAD, Cura, learned what can go wrong, how to troubleshoot, etc. It's been fun and educational. So, not a total loss, especially for $0 upfront. I'd feel cheated if I'd actually paid for it tho.
OTOH, I've wasted enough time, energy and filament on failed prints that its time to upgrade. I'd like to avoid Prusa and Bambu for personal reasons that I don't really want to go into on this comm. This is only ever really going to be a hobby for me, I see it being useful for fixing little stuff around the house like broken buttons and catches, building small ornaments or containers for things, and the occasional functional project like stands and mounts for devices or the odd project enclosure.
I've also used the Ultimaker 2+ at my local library. Although, Ultimaker seem to be focused on industrial applications these days; probably overkill for my purposes.
Prefer magnetic / flexible build plate, but glass isn't a deal breaker so long as its heated. I'm fine with manual leveling and offset so long as it's marginally more automated than the K7. I'm also alright with tinkering, replacing parts and firmware upgrades. I'd prefer a good community and aftermarket rather than having to rely on manufacturer support.
Based on my research, I'm leaning towards an Ender 3, although I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between models because the naming scheme is confusing. It seems to be a more open platform, and the community support and aftermarket seem great. But before I go ahead, are there any other brands/models I may not have heard of that I should be considering?
I don't know about your specific area, but there are charities and nonprofits that take old hardware, refurb it and give or sell for cheap to disadvantaged folks. I guess there's less need for them these days now that everyone has a phone, but there might be say, students that need one for typing stuff up, unemployed that need to write job applications, etc.