That is a very good price for the HQ. The reason the thread breaks is 1) old thread or 2) a person doesn't know how to adjust the tension - and doesn't desire to be patient enough to learn. You have to learn this no matter which mid/long-arm machine you buy - they all have learning requirements on tension and some are better than others. Being an HQ16 owner myself, I can say that as of today, I have not run across a thread I haven't been able to run. I use many threads, thread types, and multiple colors to do my quilting (from silk to 12 wgts, cottons, polys and blends). It does take some practice to learn to adjust tension on any machine - but so worth the time!
If you desire a mid-arm, this is an awesome one to get as there are no additional charges like for some other brands (where you have to pay extra for the SR, etc.). I love my machine, the 4 pole frame, and HQ has awesome support!
Just my thoughts.