I too vote for test driving whatever machines you are considering. You don't buy a car without test driving, you are investing in a major tool for your creative use and should try it out and ask all kinds of questions. Take along samples of the fabrics you will be working with. Ask questions. Contemplate and go home and think several times about what you want and what the machine you tried actually did. I go by the 3 day at least think about phase --- don't buy a sewing machine of any sort on impulse!