I have a barely Brother 4500d.. although I'm going to be listing it on Craigslist. It's not because it isn't a great machine, because it is... I just don't embroider much at all anymore. I'm thinking of downsizing to the smaller 5x7 hoop machine... I really need to get that machine listed.
Point though is that it's a nice workhorse of a machine, stitches beautifully and has a big horking hoop.
I never had any issues with it not liking thread at all either.