Nice machine. Love that face plate. Your case is like my SEWMOR 404 case used to be before it was busted to bits by the shippers. Same color, same shape, same corner braces on the corners.
But .... you said: "So I oiled her up and greased the motor, <snip>" Ummmm, that not be a grease it type motor, that be an oil it type motor. Just thought I'd tell you that.
As for machine embroidery I tried some with my HOTHER. I found that dropping the dogs and using one of those bouncy spring loaded feet/attachments it worked pretty good. I haven't tried FMQ'ing with any of these machines yet.
Joe