I think in your situation Robert, I'd get a pull-behind NH balewagon to get your out of the situation you're in, and work your way up to a self-propelled machine with the pull-behind as a backup.

The stuff that goes wrong on the NH balewagons are frames, spring packs, etc. Big issues. They're a high-maint machine, but if you do the maint (greasing, etc) on them, the little issues tend to stay in check. The big issues (frame cracks, broken spring leafs, etc) come about over time and as a result of pushing too hard, too fast, or outright abuse.

WRT to a self-propelled machine: if you got one, would there be any market for you to do customer stacking in your area? Thats one way to help make the machine pay for itself. If you were able to give other guys' backs a rest, they might pay pretty well for it, since I doubt they have any better luck with labor issues than you do.