i think my embroidery machine is the least expensive you can get on the market because you have to use your computer and send the design to the sewing machine.
i have the singer futura CE200.
i got it for $450 and while its not the best one on the market it has met my needs.
i've only used it to do embroidery onto quilts and for names and dates.
i don't think i'd ever attempt to work on baseball caps or anything like that.