I also am still using my 12 year old Janome as my primary piecing/quilting machine....when I bought it, I was so nervous because I had never paid $1000 for a machine in my life. Well to say that machine has earned its place in my heart is an understatement. I have quilted over 500 baby quilts on it (so what's that?...$2/quilt) and it's still humming along. I bought a little featherweight that I piece with but just could not do what I do without the Janome. I am a customer for life. And....I'm really not on the "upgrade to a bigger better machine" roller coaster. It does everything I've ever asked of it.