It is nice to have more than one machine as maintenance and repairs do happen.
For me its one expensive computerized machine that does everything I want except embroidery. It has a 10inch throat and needle down so works well for free motion.
A second cheap workhorse machine like a Brother strait stitch for piecework and backup when the computerized one is in the shop.
This machine should also have needle down as that is a very handy function to have for quilting.