I hear ya about the bottom of the line machine that you just love to pieces! I don't even like the thought of getting a new machine as much as I should simply because I know the machine I have now would get "abandoned"! I have a Brother Xl2600i my dad got it for me for Christmas the year my husband was in bootcamp so I would have something to do. In other words I was living with him and he wanted some stuff made! lol I think he paid about 100 bucks (AT MOST) for it from walmart! It doesn't do much, and it has a SUPER tiny throat space but I love that stupid thing! lol I have been sewing on it for four years and it has never "hiccuped" even once!