I also want to thank you and applaud you for giving all the details of your journey into buying home quilting equipment. Many can learn from your experience.
Keep in mind that small arm machines will not give you much quilting space once you roll the quilt into the throat of the machine. it does not matter what the name of the machine is, or how expensive it is, but what amount of quilting space you are going to have to work in. I think that is difficult to fathom for many people,
This is a great place for learning many things.