there are some very nice machines out there that you can get used that have the drop in bobbin with a plastic window over it. I got mine for 100, it was a janome sewist 521. my friend she has an ancient singer futura from the early 90's maybe even late 80's that has the drop in bobbin with plastic cover. I was shocked to see that because I thought that the drop in was a relatively new feature.
I don't think that I would like to have a machine talk to me or beep at me. I might start to talk back to it. well I already talk to my machine but at least it doesn't really talk to me. hehe