Here is my 2 cents. Or what I done anyway.
I started looking a couple months ago for something. I started with about $3000 as a limit. I looked at the Juki/Grace combos. The frames I had it narrowed down to was the Pro and the D-Lite. D-lite fits up to a 17" throat, the Pro a 20". Both are wood. Then I desided that I do more 'big' quilts than little and would easily out grow the Juki.
The Bailey was the next that I looked at. I only had 2 concerns about it. 1-It does have the 15" throat length, but what's the height? I could never find what it was and the best I could tell from the pics its about 6". Quilts are in roll not flat so that would be a tight fit. 2-Support. Yes, I hear the guy who makes them is very helpful, but what happens when he is no longer there? I am in my 30s and can see quilting into my 90s (fingers crossed).
While doing research, I stumbled upon a used APQS Discovery. I ended up getting it for under $4000. It was a trade-in and refurbished. It does not have a stitch regulator. I found that it's very nice to have one but it's possible to have great quilts without it. It's all in how you learn to use your machine. At this point I wanted 'workhorse' not 'bells and whistles'. I only plan on quilting for myself. I've had Dizzy for just over a month and LOVE her very much. APQS is terrific on their support. It was suppose to be shipped, at a $350 cost to me, but I was willing to pick it up at the factory in Carroll, Iowa instead of shipping. When they found that I am so close to their Des Moines office, they brought it down from Carroll at no cost to me. Saving me time and money. The guy then came in on a Saturday (their closed) and met me to pick it up. While I was there, another woman from APQS was there working on a personal quilt, she showed me ALOT about it and we talked for over an hour. After getting it set-up at home, I had an issue with the lazer. I sent an email and had the answer to my problem within an hour. They also have a forum that I have found some good tips on. I am FOREVER an APQS customer!!!!