I also post at patternreview.com it is a great site to read about the different machines and make an educated decision before forking out tons of money for the machine of your dreams.
I have a few machines, but by far my favorite is the bernina's. I have an record 830 and a 180 artista (just got, new to me and in getting cleaned and oiled now) I used it a couple weeks and also fried my brain learning the booklet front and backwards. It is way nice.
The janome MC2400 is a nice little machine. Called a quilting machine, and works quite well really. The feet are inexpensive compared to the bernina by far! And it goes over heavy seams pretty darn good.
I have my mom's old, old straight stitch machine (singer) But, I have never pulled it out and used it. It has the metal straight bobbins. Lol! I have heard they are a workhorse and one of these days I will try it out. Mom used to do some really nice things on it while she was alive.
My next door neighbor has the top of the line bernina she bought a year ago and she loves it. But, who wouldn't?