I agree, I encourage people to get used machines from yard sales, they are better than the new "affordable" machines.
I have a short arm machine, and the large frame. My frame is 12 feet long and 3 feet away from the wall! Not counting the width of the frame itself. I do most of my sewing on an older Bernina model, and a 45 year old Singer. I only use the short arm for the quilting.