I think your questions are why I still don't have one. I sat with my sewing machine for over a year doing a little bit of this and that every now and then-I was so intimidated by it (years ago, and it is a Babylock Ellegante). I was so used to the very simplified Singers and Kenmores and Brothers that I was afraid of breaking something. Then I just dug in, after I got over the guilt of spending so much money on it (got a great deal on demo model). I plan on starting out with a frame and using my Babylock Jane. That way I know I will get a lot of experience in before I jump into spending more on a longer armed machine. I am wondering, once you master the feathers etc. on FMQ on our short and mid-arm machines, isn't it much easier and comfortable to forge ahead in the learning process on a long-arm? That is my thought, but I know nothing about long-arming.