I think I would consider what I was going to use the machine for. Are you planning to sew other things besides quilts? Can your current machine drop the feed dogs? Are you even going to do fmq or or you going to send out your quilts to be quilted? Also, what are you going to use the serger for? Many of the newer machines have an overcasting foot/stitch if you're not going to be doing alot of garmet making. Many of us on this board (including me) have sergers that sit in the corner collecting dust. At any rate I certainly wouldn't get rid of my old tried and true machine--keep it as a backup because like you said the newer ones are not as sturdy!