Base on my personal experience, it's a lot easier to buy bitcoins in person from someone than to use an ATM machines an go through the long process before having your bitcoin...
In many cases the process of buying bitcoins is simple as scan code, feed cash, click send = 15 seconds. No registration or verification.
Almost all lamassu machines (~30% of all bitcoin ATMs) work like this.
The Lamassu machine in my city requires a scan of the state Driver's License. "Debbie Downer"
It also does not work right all the time, the owners are always having to fiddle with it (reboot, etc.). That MIGHT be a network or WiFi issue, I cannot say.
I bought some BTC at a BTM in NYC once. No ID! I put in almost ALL the FIAT$ I had in my wallet. Then went to a regular ATM to replenish my cash.
Just be glad that you have a city that has an ATM in your state in general, let alone your city... It would be so convenient to exchange cash for bitcoin directly and not have to worry about my bank verifying my transaction that takes 4 business days. I think the closest one to me is around maybe 4 hours away? So unless I had a huge amount of fiat that I was willing to deposit directly into bitcoin, it will never be reasonable for me to make that drive.