I own 2 Berninas, an Activa and 440 QE. I saved up for both of them because they are pricey. An important consideration is your dealer, will you have good support, warranty/service and lessons on your new machine?There are many excellent brands out there and you will need to try some out. Go with a couple of fabric swatches and a list of must have features. I wanted a good buttonhole stitch for appliqué, needle up/down for satin stitch, adjustable foot pressure and the BSR for Fmqing. What are your must haves?