There was a time that a mig welder wasnt in every shop and hobbists garage.
It was oxy/act torches we welded with every day and chances were back then if you walked into a shop you would see something being cut with a torch ,sparks and slag flying everywhere.
Back in 1976 A.D.

the first piece of equipment I bought was my "must have" torches ,THEN I got my compressor....Can you imagine how many panels I ruined trying to learn welding with torches....we would pull and beat out even the worst destroyed panels rather than cut them off and replace them...
The mig has been a godsend thats for sure but on the other hand they did single handedly make panel beating obsolete at your everyday body shop.