(i.e. no market loss, has death benefit, attracted to access before age 59.5, etc..)

I always say you can tell someone's experience level, based on how salty they seem... just some food for thought! 

Food for thought - you'll also want to consider your tax strategy and reported income through the lens of your future plans.

I’m in a handful of syndications and they are all making 0% right now, with likely loss of principle in most.

What many investors are learning is that this leads to terrible outcomes including paused distributions and loss of principal invested.You are technically correct that debt will always multiply returns.

We always have a speaker and have just started providing food and drinks as well.  

I understand that I must be competitive but I am not going to price myself into a loss.  

These are the people for whom 1 missing paycheck (for illness, emergency, etc) would mean not putting food on the table. 

How are you going to feel having to repay the lender and then take a loss of $10K? 

While spending $7500.00 on a property you may not buy may seem like a lot, the cost of buying a property like this "blind" could result in total loss of your investment and being on the hook for amount of the loan.