I have a Crown Jewel and love it also. I do not have the quilt motion or other software with it and have found that I can do without it. I make my own pantographs and am now able to do quite a bit of free motion with it. Mine has a Grace Majestic frame which I really like also. I am not familiar with the Pearl.
I would suggest that you attend the class in St. Louis that Baby Lock does - 4 days with Kay Capps Cross. I could never have gotten as far and felt as confident as I do now without that. The class was included for me with the deal I got at a quilt show. But I had to pay to get there and for food and lodging. (They hooked me up with another student as a roommate which helped.