I live in Pennsylvania and purchased my Sweet16 from California. It saved me over $500 in shipping and taxes. My LQS will service the machine (it's 1 1/2 hrs away) if it ever needs it. HQ stands behind the machine and any repairs. If you look closely, it's a really basic machine: no feed dogs, no pressure foot (comes with a hopping foot); you just add a drop of oil to the bobbin case. If there are problems they can usually be solved by an IT team logging into the computerized section.
I didn't get the Stitch Regulator. Saw it demo'd and it seemed I had to pay too much attention to it and not to moving my fabric. You say you're good at FMQ--I'm not: I suck. This machine ONLY FMQ's so I'm determined to master it so I can get some UFO's done. It's very simple to set up and start sewing.
The downside to not ordering it locally is that there are no classes available altho this would be the case if I purchased it here.
Good luck and enjoy!!!