i started out with the new joy frame and the brother 1500s. the machine was great, but the throat was too small.
on the new joy frame the take-up roller and the roller right in front of you has so little space to start that when you begin you can only quilt a, say, 7-8' block comfortably.. beyond that, the nose of the machine bumps into the front roller. by the time the quilt is all rolled up the machine can't move forward enough to quilt anything greater than 5" if you really horse it around. that's because the bulk of the quilt under the throat is preventing the machine from sliding forward any further. because at this point the bulk is hitting the back of the throat to keep it from moving.
i sold it. i got the tin lizzie 18. 18 inches in the throat. the frame is the typical good-quality wood frame used by two other companies. the machine is not as smooth as the brother but i have plenty of room for a 12-14" block easily.
i'm sorry i didn't save up a little longer and get this one first. i wasted time and money the first time around. i don't know if i would ever spend for a top-quality quilter because this is for fun and not a career for me.