I love mine. It was gently used. A LQS actually gave me lessons as I took my sewing machines there for servicing.
You can get the HQ 'how to' video by calling HQ. It might be free [mine was.]
HQ support is awesome. One HQ owner has never taken her machine in but has called HQ and been walked through any problems she ever encountered - which were very few.
Maybe you can find a dealer in your area and hook up with other HQ users. One of our LQS's actually had a HQ users group for a while.
ali