Maybe you should to change this threads title to Catholic vrs Protestant, as you will then have less heated opinions amongst machinists
I grew up in NZ (Metric) but am an Aircraft Engineer (Imperial). You say you are more comfortable in Metric, then buy a metric mini-lathe. Most of the imperial mini-lathe have the same 1mm pitch leadsrews as the metric version. This means you have 0.3937" per rev, although they are graduated in 40 0.001" divisions.
To make imperial threads on a metric lathe, you will need 57 tooth gear somewhere in the change gears. (25.4:1 --> 254 is divisable by 57). I think you can buy these from
www.littlemachineshop.com (Can't access the website today).