Mastering at home vs. studio

I'd like to know if anyone out there has much experience with mastering at home with software as well as using a professional mastering house. I'm just finishing a project and trying to decide how to tackle the mastering. I found a good pro studio but it's VERY expensive. Their minimum package would cost 4 times as much money as the software I'm considering - and of course that's a one-off, where as I'd own the software for as long as I wanted. However, they have many sets of golden ears, as well as experience and knowledge that I don't have...is it worth paying that much for? Also, while any professional mastering house will boast an impressive collection of expensive gear, both vintage and otherwise, it seems to be more and more the case that audio software is getting so good as to render the hardware obsolete - or at least give it a run for its money at a fraction of the cost... Waves? Bias Peak? T.C. Electronic's? Thanks in advance!

I would suggest that it depends on the scope of the project. What does the client want? Will they be happy driving around in a nice Camry? Or do they require at least a Lexus, and preferably a Viper, or Rolls Royce? What are they willing to pay for? While the mastering house does have plenty of nice gear, my impression is that we're paying for their experience/ears/quality of project. And, yes, their gear does matter: that precisely tuned room, those exacting speakers and amps, etc. Software is impressive, but there is more to it than just the right Waves setting. Is this your personal project? Or are you working for a band? Who decides what car to drive? For what it's worth....

When going to a mastering house, you are mostly paying for their ears...then comes the cost of the gear. Just because you have it doesn't mean you know how to use it.

A good mastering engineer can make all the difference on a project...

When you are a tweaker, you hear and create many things. I like the magic