Having used an optical tracer for the last year and used it to cut braces, tabs, number plates, etc. . .I would strongly urge you to save up for a Torchmate!
The optical tracers are a real PITA to use. . .the upkeep is not bad, but getting them set-up takes longer than a CNC machine would (not counting the time to draw your pattern in CAD, but I used CAD to draw my patterns anyway so for me there would be no additional drawing time to convert to CNC) and the optical tracers cannot cut sharp corners, they can only cut radiused corners and there is a limit to that as well. . .I have been able to cut down to a 1/4" radius with our optical tracer, but no smaller (I don't know the brand that we have, but it's pretty old). . .
. . .as I am slowly, but surely buying my equipment for my own shop I will be saving for a Torchmate with a Thermal Arc Cutmaster 82 set-up. . .the extra time that it would take me to save for the CNC will be well worth it in that I will be able to do more work quickly and cleanly with less need to re-cut pieces because the optical eye got lost and couldn't follow the line. . .
. . .things you need to consider with the optical tracer is the increased time to set up for the cut (you should run through the pattern at least one to make sure that it can follow the pattern. . .and don't forget that you will have to manually moving the eye/torch combination or workpiece each time to cut multiple items (all of which is lost time), the potential for having to re-cut a piece is probably double or more what it would be for a CNC machine which is lost time and material. . .
. . .just some things to consider when you are thinking about an optical tracer. . .
Good luck and I will be jealous of you regardless of which route you go because I don't even have a plasma torch at home yet!!! Just a medium-duty Victor Oxy-Acetylene welder/cutting set-up and a Miller Millermatic 211 GMAW machine. . .saving now for the tube bender, tube notcher, plasma cutter/TorchMate set-up and a Miller Dynasty 200 GTAW welding machine. . .