I have a Juki 98Q and totally love it. I want a long arm, but even when I get one, this will remain my primary piecing machine. I will never trade her in. I love quilting on it, and love piecing. Just remember that you must oil her all the time. She is all metal and will live forever!
I will say that I jumped up one model to get the thread cutter, after great debate, and I find it totally worth it. Now, on my old Singer, I sometimes get irritated because the thread cutter is not there.