When i started quilting I bought a 'Flynn' system, I liked it very much, it could be bulky and you needed alot of room to use it, but I pieced and quilted 12 queen size quilts in 1 year with that thing.
Then I bought a Handi Quilter. I didn't like that as well, al though it was easier to use because of the design; you still need a large space...as far as price.... the Flynn system was WAY cheaper than the Handi Quilter. But, they're right, you should keep your eye on Craigs list...
Now I hand quilt without a frame, I found that I didn't care to load, and unload the qulits.....plus any home machine is going to have limited throat space.... to have any kind of a decent size pattern across the whole top, you have to unload, and reload the quilt from the other end...... that takes the fun out of it for me.