I have the same one you are ordering. I couldn't find a better piece in the same price range. I had hubby cut a hole in the top of mine and put a shelf at the right level to sit my machine in so the bed is level with the top of the table.
I don't think I've ever closed mine up except when I moved it from one side of the room to the other.
As for having more surface area to help hold up the weight of large quilts--I keep a table just to my left all the time and put another small table just in front of my cabinet when quilting a large quilt. Works great! And if you really want an airlift; you can by one and install it yourself.