I bought an higher-end Bernette for my daughter a few years back. It has always worked well, though we don't use it too often. It is (I think) a Bernette 90. I certainly don't like it as well as my "real" Berninas (I have a 1031 from '92 and a 440QE from '97). The feet are simple snap-ons instead of the solid (though expensive) Bernina feet. The Bernette I have is a nice solid little machine though.
And it is certainly true that Bernettes aren't made by Bernina. They are made by another company (used to be Janome) to Bernina specs. This the reason that the Bernina embroidery-only machines carry the Bernette Deco name.
Pam