I'm another one who thinks the thread cutter on a longarm is a waste. People who have it (I think APQS machines have it) don't use it because it cuts the tails too short to bury, but not at the surface of the quilt, so you have to go back later and hand cut them all off anyway, if that's how you choose to handle your thread tails. I'm another one in the camp titled "Don't be the First to Buy a new Electronic Item". Sorry, don't mean to rain on your parade, just advising you not to jump into anything, so you won't regret your decision later. I bought a used Gammill and love her. You can get alot of bang for your buck buying a used machine. Just MH and honest opinion, of course.