I started off with a Janome 350e and loved it... but had hoop envy.... I sold that and bought a Janome MB4 which I absolutely hated. It was loud and a pain to thread and I couldn't master how to place things - and the dealership was no help at all at the time...
I sold that and bought a Brother 4500d which is funny because it is what I almost got instead of the MB4. I did get a great deal on it and ended up saving a ton of money.
I don't use my embroidery machine as often as I should but when I do I love it.
I would not get a machine with less than a 5x7" hoop no matter what others tell you. You WILL outgrow the hoop size before you can blink.
Get as good of a machine as you can afford... and shop around.