I thought I would like the auto needle threader, but I can never get the darn thing to work, so I could live without that. It is probably something I am doing wrong, though.
I LOVE the auto thread cutter, just push the button and you are free to move the quilt around without struggling to cut the threads. My main quilting machine is a Brother PQ1500 which has a 9" "work area", and even machine quilting a thick queen size quilt is a breeze. It only sews forward and backward, but the stitches are beautiful, and it is a very sturdy, solid. fast and reliable machine. I have other machines with the fancy stitches, but the PQ1500 is my go-to machine. I don't know how I lived without it.