I have a Janome 6600 and LOVE it. Got it last March and it really is a wonderful wonderful machine. Cannot recommend it any higher. Not only is it a workhorse, but the construction of it can't be beat. Steel construction with ball bearings. Check out the construction of any machine that you are going to put that much money into. They are not all equal. Took dh with me, I checked out the features and he checked out the machine construction. LOL
Good luck its a very hard and personal decision.