the best bet is to try some machines but just get a very simple "Cheep" one for now to learn and work on while you are testing out the different models. I got a Janome second hand this weekend and have just had a ball with it. I had a singer that had to go in for repairs, would only sew in reverse. (Made a bag that way and wanted to cry it was sooooo hard.)
Just get a temporary one till you know that you really like quilting and then when you have done a lot of looking around and saved lots of money, you can get a really good one. I am saving up to get a small longarm.
It is up to you what to do and but I would suggest getting a temporary one on sale or second hand till you have a good chance to look around and try them out. And sometimes all the gidgets and gazmoes are not worth it if you don't know how or what to use them for.