I personally fantasize about the perfect home gym: treadmill (gym quality), free weights, dvd player, and elliptical (GYM QUALITY!) as well as mats and a personal trainer that keeps to my nocturnal schedule. Unless I just win the lottery and don't know it, I have to stick with more economical means to make exercise a part of my normal life. What range of exercise equipment have you purchased? How has the equipment that you have bought from walmart worked for you? What are you considering buying and what are you worries?
Right now I am looking into a sturdy elliptical trainer for an affordable price, but worry about the "getting what you pay for." At home now I have a wonderful stability ball that I have had for 2 years, with grips, weights, a trampoline, and a few vids. Each of those holds up under my abuse, yet I still feel trepidation at buying a bigger piece from Walmart.