I machine piece, and have a Brother Runway model that I bought on sale at my local quilt shop. Think I paid less than $400 for it. For what I do it sews like a dream. It is light weight to carry to quilting classes and easy to put up and away when it isn't being used. It does have a bunch of fancy stitches which seems like fun when you buy, but I think most people never use more than one or two of them, if that. I am not an accomplished sewer, a straight stitch is about all I can do, so it works for me.