I have the 440QE and learned to quilt and FMQ on it. It takes all the pain out of FMQ! However, I think that price is high, given that the 440QE has been replaced in Bernina's line and that the machine is a floor model.
Edited to say - if the dealer won't let you test drive, then you need to find another dealer. That's a necessity, even if the machine weren't a floor model. Also be sure that the dealer has a good reputation for servicing machines before you buy from him. And be sure to get a full warranty. I also bought the dealer's extended service agreement and then purchased another one when the first one expired. That means I have no worries about anything going wrong with the machine, and I can take it in as often as I want for cleaning and servicing. To me it's worth the extra expense.
Last edited by dunster; 02-21-2012 at 08:24 AM.