Hi Nashvill girl
Miss Nashville! lived there for 5 years.But I had a designer SE and never had any problems at all ,But I never really did any free motion with it,can't quite get the hang of free motion yet.not patient enough,usually do stitich in the ditch or heirloom stitched on the seams,or better yet send it out to be quilted.
But I just traded it in today for the new Brother Duetta,not because I didn't like it or had any problems,See if there is a viking rep at the show this weekend and talk to them
Good Luck