I have a Brother PQ1500, has a 9" throat space, but it only does straight stitch...I just got a Janome Horizon 7700, has 11" throat plate, and does a lot of stitches...I haven't had a chance to use it yet, tho...I also have a Grace machine quilt frame, was going to use my 1500 with it, but never have...I just do a meander stipple or and outline stitch about 1/8" away from ditch on 1500..it has a pin feed system, so I don't have to use a walking (ever feed) foot to do the outline stitch...I will say for the price, it has been a great machine...the pin feed makes piecing quilts a breeze, too...Have you checked out Leah Days website? She does all of her fmq on a domestic machines, couple of years ago got the Janome 7700...but still shows quilting on a regular size domestic machine. Here is a link to her site, she has a TON of great info...
http://daystyledesigns.com/
Regards,
Kif
PS Quilt gloves, or gloves with fingertip grips are a BIG help...also I use the bobbin genies...and a free motion slider..and I also make sure and have tables around so there is not pull and drag on the quilt...here is another link to youtube videos, have great way to make an inexpensive quilting table:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM