I've seen that - the Bernette line from Bernina are Janomes. Nothing wrong with them. Berninas come in all types. Pfaff has lower end machines with the IDT that sew straight just as well as the TOL. A lot of TOL are also embroidery - some don't want it. More advanced machines have more stitches. Some don't need those, either. A lot would give all for a Featherweight - a lot here seem to like older mechanical machines.
I buy fabric by color. If I have a certain color scheme in mind, I mix and match from wherever.
Better is not always the most expensive, either. You want accurate, and if a lesser priced accurate tool is just that, then why bother with the most expensive? Just for the name?