My Viking Sapphire was $1100 new over 5 yrs ago. I love this machine with the 10 in throat. It is computerized.
It does not require lifting and lowering the foot, its automatic. When in needle down mode it will lift the foot just a little when you stop sewing. The only thing it dosnt have is a thread cutter.
I rarely use the fancy stitches and it has alot of them.
It also has a drop in bobbin which I insist on having on all my machines except one that I hate. The Baby Lock Jane. It is so primitive and has a complicated threading and a bobbin case under the machine. It came with my long arm table that I dont use because of this machine. Just wish I had the money for a long arm machine.