I own a Baby Lock 6200 and have had it for years. I've never had it serviced and the thing runs great. lol, now it'll probably prove me wrong and quit.
I'd love to upgrade and keep this little machine too, maybe some day, but for now it does everything I need it to do. It even came with a walking foot.
But yeah, get a good used machine to start out with. I sewed on my Mom's old Singer 'Heavier than a Chevy' machine for years. ;)