Hi, I'm Karen from Northeast Georgia. I was happy to see that you were mentioning two states (NC and GA). It's nice to know that someone is close by.
I have a Bernina and have used Bernias for at least 25 years. The Bernina that you purchased (no matter what price or style - I have the Quilters Edition) will be a dream to sew on. The Bernette is a machine that is not made in the same country as the Bernina and never would I put it in the same class as your new machine. Once you learn how to thread and fill the bobbins, it will be a cinch to sew - especially since you will do mostly straight stiching. You can buy different feet (some people do not like this aspect, but I do) to use for different projects. For example, I use Foot # 37 for doing the quarter-inch stitching. Since I am a beginner for quilting, I take classes and my shops only use Bernina's. Just enjoy...