Maybe these reviews will help. I have the Espire which is not an embroidery machine and love her. But then you are a Babylock user already and know how they handle in general.
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/topsearch.pl
As for "tacky" - I think that depends on how the subject is stated. (I heleped a gal at work once to do up her wedding invitations. She wanted them to say: "We do not want any gifts but there will be a money tree at the reception." Now THAT was tacky - and I refused.)