I read through all the posts and as always, everyone has a reason why a company is the best or the worst. We need to remember a few things.
Most newer machines are not as good as their counterpart older machines. This is true for Singer, Pfaff, Viking, Janome, Brother, etc.
You can make the same statement about cars, they don't make them like they used to. And they probably never will. They don't make things to last, they make them to be upgraded and replaced. That is how they stay in business.
I have 8 machines of various brands. And have sold or passed down several others. The older machines were always workhorses, but without the bells and whistles. The newer machines have the bells and whistles. The down side is that the newer machines will need more care and things can go wrong with them.
I love my Pfaff Expression and it is my machine of choice right now. I also love my Viking and my Singer and my Bernina, and my Baby Lock. Companies get sold all the time and often we don't even know it. Or their factories change and we never hear about it.
We all have to find that happy place where a machine gives us the features we need at the price we can afford to pay. Trying a machine out before buying is always a good idea. And finding a local dealer is better too. Just remember, how helpful a dealer is depends on that individual, NOT the manufacturer of the machine.
Good luck to you.