Buying Affordable Anamorphics vs. Renting Character Glass for an Indie Feature?

Hey DIT fam,

I'm on an indie feature coming up, and we're shooting with an ALEXA Mini. The director really wants to experiment with anamorphic but the budget is, as ever, a beast. I've been looking at a few options and wanted to get some real-world input.

Specifically, I'm weighing the pros and cons of just outright buying a more affordable set like the SIRUI ASTRA. On one hand, we'd own glass, which is cool for future projects, and the initial outlay is manageable. On the other hand, renting a 'character' set, something like the Atlas Orion series, gives us a very distinct look but eats into the budget significantly, and of course, it's a rental.

I've only really DIT'd with spherical glass or done a few days with bigger budget anamorphic where cost wasn't a primary concern. How do you guys factor in the long-term value of owning the accessible anamorphics versus the short-term impact of a more premium, rented set for a specific project?