I personally wouldn't get a longarm that wasn't computerized. I can freehand on mine, but 99% of the time, I let the computer do the work. I guess, with a lot of practice, I could master the freehand quilting, but at 68 years old, I'm not sure I'd live long enough to freehand a great quilt! It's not as easy as it looks.
And I wouldn't even consider an 8 foot frame. Mine is 10 feet, and there have been times when I wished I had the space for a 12 foot frame. Good luck and enjoy!