HI - I have both the Bernina 430 and the Janome 6600. I used to have a Bernina 450 with BSR but sold that. I use the Bernina for piecing but would not part with the Janome. The reason I sold the Bernina with BSR was that due to the small throat space of the Bernina, the BSR was pretty useless to me for a regular size quilt. I found it went too slow as well. It just takes a little practice to get FMQ down pretty well, then you will find the BSR to be confining. I really need the larger throat space that Janome 6600 has to quilt, it makes thing so much easier. I also love the built in walking foot of the Janome, I use it for stitch in the ditch, straight line quilting (like cross hatching) and sewing on binding. I'm also using it for art quilts now, using lots of different threads with no problems. Having said all that, I love the feel and quality of the Bernina and love it for piecing. The narrower feed dogs really help with accurate piecing. I don't like using the 6600 for piecing at all. I like the Bernina for machine applique in quilt blocks also. If you are interested in a machine primarily for FMQ, I would say the 6600 is better due to the larger throat area. If you are doing only small quilts or wall hangings, the Bernina is fine. If I could only have one of these machines, I would have to pick the Janome because it is more versatile, due to the built in walking foot and the larger throat. Then I would get a Singer 301 (usually less than $150. for one in good shape) and use it for piecing. Just my two cents...