good points. i should have included some of that info. the TL18SL has a stitch regulator. the bobbin is very very accessible. i have only ever seen one other machine in that price category and that's new this year. it's the pfaff. i didn't like it myself, but you might.
i'm very short and i do wish the lizzie was able to lower a little more.
it comes with a laser and soon there will be a stylus, but any stylus works. there is/soon will be a plexiglass extender that fits around the arm so that you can balance a longer straight edge better. there is also available a split foot so you can see where you are stitching more easily.
but cookn is definitely right. check everything! the best place to make comparisons is at a show, where they're all together.
if you go to the yahoo group tin lizzie, you can see how people have adjusted the tin lizzie to meet their own needs. you should check this out. many of these ideas are good for any machine.