I say go ahead and let her learn on the cheaper Brother--maybe it will last long enough to show her whether or not she wants to go somewhere with her sewing (or quilting); but do encourage her to be on the look-out for other machines--I have a friend who started out on a Brother and now owns the best Janome makes, top of the line, she bought it used from a friend of the family whose wife had died and he just couldn't face having her sewing stuff all around him. If she is a good "reading learner" just make sure she gets all the printed information that came with a used machine like that. It does my heart good to see a young person take an interest in sewing.....