I'm a relatively new hobbyist maker looking to upgrade from my current 1x30. I've narrowed my search down to either the Alec Steele 2x48 (made by 84 Engineering) or the DIY Revolution Gen 5 (which would also be my first welding project).

In doing my research, I've found that one of the largest reasons for recommending a 2x72 over a 2x48 is a greater availability of belts. With a bit of googling, I've found plenty of belts available in both sizes, so that's not really a concern of mine. It also looks like the 2x48 can most of the same accessories a 2x72 can.

The differences I'm really interested in are:

1. Footprint- is a 2x48 really that much of a space savings over a 2x72?

2. Belt life- I know a 2x72 will last longer, but how much are we talking here?

3. Heat build up- again, obviously a 2x72 will out perform a 2x48 here, but by how much?

Basically just trying to get a better idea of the differences in these areas so I can make a better informed decision on which grinder is right for me.

A few other considerations that are more specific to my situation and less about the overall differences between the two sizes:
4) platen size. The 2x48 comes with a 6" platen- I couldn't immediately find the size of the Revolution platen, but it looks to be 8"-ish in the pictures. How much will that limit a novice maker, and would a 48" belt fit a larger platen at some point down the line? I'm most interested in making kitchen knives, so I'll be working in the 8"-10" range for blades.
5) I've never welded before. I have access to a welder and don't mind spending a little time learning the basics with scrap, but welding a whole grinder chasis together looks a little intimidating.

If you've made it this far- thanks for taking the time to read through- any guidance or experience shared is much appreciated.