The rummage sale that my mother volunteers at in Jersey just got a featherweight in...
They are checking it today to see if it works or not....
But for new machines a lot of ladies that meet at the sewing store I go to uses a Janome Gem. It's compact but packs a punch! I strong arm my big machine around with me - okay, not my REALLY big machine lol that one weighs 70 lbs - but my 4900qc I just put her in a rolling case and go - but I can see how having a 3/4 size machine for retreats would be sweet!
I'm not sure about the other companies out there but I know Janome makes one just for this kind of situation and all the women that I know that have them love theirs!