I have the Janome MC 9500. I have never had a problem and mine is about 6 years old. At that time I paid $1,800. I bought it from Ken's Sewing Center in Florence/Muscle Shoals, Al. I really like mine. The only thing I wish was different was the size of the hoops and I can't make the writing small enough, although I have made several quilt labels on it. As far as the kind of thread, you should use spool embroidery thread for your embroidered pieces.