I got a little more info, now, and hope to get some more. The fellow I spoke about has three ShopSmiths and he uses them exclusively for turning. (They have a nominal 14 inch swing, by the way.) He does serious (and commercial) work with them, so I think we can say they do heavy work.
I don't know about the motors he uses, and the early ShopSmiths had the option of a 1/2 horse or a 3/4 horse motor (part of the reason, Aunt Phil, for why a motor wasn't part of the package.)
He has, and I think I would recommend, the early models -- the ER 10 -- made by Magna. The ways on these have a full quarter inch wall, about twice the thickness of the new ShopSmiths.
I've attached a photo of one where the headstock has been attached outside the head rest to get greater distance.
The tail stock is also set up to receive a Morse taper.