Got some 1/8th and 1/4 balsa on the way to try it, will report back after the weekend @AngusMcleod
If you were going to do one offs that the spindle cannot do then I would suggest the JTech laser is more than suitable. But doing lots of the same cut would be better off on a 40W laser due to the speed. Guess it is the balance between your time/machine time/equipment cost over its lifetime and how many parts you want and of course only you can decide that.
Me? I’m quite happy having the laser cut out a battery tray for an RC plane or say a rocket engine mount in 3mm ply (see this) even if it takes a few hours because I’m usually only ever making one at a time. Even then, I only reach for the laser to cut it if the spindle cannot because of the inside corner issue/or other fine details are needed.
Which reminds me, must measure and draw up the battery/equipment trays for my new RC plane before I build it. Having the ability to produce spares was actually the main reason I bought the X-Carve in the first place 
Cheers
Ian