I have haad a Viking Designer 1 which is a great machine.
I also have had a Brother 8500D which was a work horse for pieceing and Embroidery...
Now I went to the TOL Pfaff and Brother, which feature both sewing and machine embroidery.
I love them both.
Alot of the new machines come with some things standard, like fancy stitches, buttonhole, etc...
There are some things that are really great for quilting, I think.
A large throat area to manage those quilts. Even feed, like a Pfaff or Bernina have, to do wonderful quilting.
Foot up, needle down-pivot feature for piecing. And most important, is an moveable needle to get that 'perfect" 1/4" inch seam!
Kirsten