Yeah, I'm with you. I wouldn't take that 730E to class either. I kept my eyes open and finally got a vintage Bernina for use outside the house. It's an 801Sport from the 1980s. One of my Quilt of Valor buddies noticed right away how quiet it is. You might also look for a MiniMatic or a Favorit, depending on how old you are willing to go. Because they are Berninas, they are great machines and because they are mechanical, they are easy to maintain. Bernina also makes a modern mechanical machine, the 1008, but I'm not sure it comes with a nifty handle. It's an entry level machine, but it has lots of features. At my store they run around $700.
Good luck and let us know what you find.