My sister and I bought the newest Elna Quilting Queen in 2006. I love mine and have had NO problems what so ever and neither has my sis. In fact a friend of mine literally sewed her Kenmore machine to death, and bought the previous model before mine on a close out and loves hers also. My only complaint is that it does not finsh my projects for me. I still have to be there...
Sorry about your losses, and hope you can recover at least the quilts..
Happy shopping and quilitng!
Susan