My very favorite machine (in the whole world) is my Elna Quilters Pro. It has a knee lift and I am so used to it, it has become automatic. It would be a feature I would always look for if I ever get another machine.
Here's my only problem. I am sooooooooo used to it, that I don't want to use another machine, even though I have a small, light weight, Brother to take to classes, sew-ins, I don't want to take it because it doesn't have the knee lift, but my knee keeps looking for it.