Welcome, from Texas!
All you really "need" is a machine you love. Of course the shops are gonna try to sell you the most expensive one, possible; that's how they make money. I had the same Kenmore, for 35 years, before buying a Horizon 7700, for the extra throat space. I love my 7700 but I also still love my old Kenmore (and am trying to get it back to working order). When I decided to teach my dd and dgd to sew, I bought an inexpensive Brother CS6000i (with the intention of sending it home with them, afterwards). The LQS lady bad-mouthed it but I trusted the reviews and opinions here . . . and so far, it seems to be a wonderful machine!