I'll tell you what I was told and have heard many tell the same thing. Get as much of a machine (larger embroidery field) as you can afford.
Reason being is that the first time you do ME (machine embroidery) you'll wish you could do a bigger design... and yes, you can split but it's not so easy.. (I have an design I did when I had a smaller hoop, had to splice her and put her back together.)... her legs are attached, but not quite the way they were supposed to be! :lol:
I quickly moved up to a B/L Ellegante... and haven't regretted it since.. loved it so much I also bought the 4000D Innovis which has been upgraded so it's equivelant to the 4500D. (has Disney and my kids used to love Disney)
Anyways, Brother and Babylock are made by the same people...I know, weird, but that said all my machines previous were Brother's... I also have a B/L Evolve Serger... so it's just what machine brand you like...