The Singer 401 came out in the late 1950"s (oops! telling my age here), but I never had a minutes trouble with that one. That was during the time everyone took pride in their workmanship and things were built to last. I could clean it myself and there were no extra parts to worry about.
You say, "...steer clear of the Singers." You must have really had a lemon. My experience with the 401 was wonderful and no radical computer parts to worry about.
So far I am just as pleased with my Elna, but I worry what the tropical climate will do to it.
Have a good day and use whatever you have to the good of sewing in general.