In my opinion, I feel you get more for your money with a Brother or Babylock, especially if you are looking at the less expensive entry level machines. The lower cost Bernina's, the Bernette line are not something I would want.
You might want to consider a used machine, with so many new top of the line models out in the past couple of years you might get much mor efor your money with a traded in machine.
If there there were only a Bernina dealer from which to choose a machine I would rather spend $400 on a used Bernina than $400 on a new Bernette.