A single machine that can function as a lathe, a drill press, a table saw, a sander, and more? How cool!
If you have 1) less space in your shop than average, and 2) are using your shop for low quantities (not building many objects for sale, for instance), then a combination machine might be right for you.
They're known to be good for space-saving, however their downsides include increased time when changing between functions. Most people in tiny wood shops will be already familiar with this issue, as many of us have tools on wheels, that need to be rearranged to get things done.
Wikipedia articles:
They're somewhat expensive new (although you do get a lot of functionality from one), but they're often available from the used market