Fortyniner

Yesterday, my DH and I went shopping for a new sewing machine. I am having trouble with tendonitis in the area of my right elbow and decided I needed a machine with one of those knee lifts to reduce the constant lifting of the presser foot. We went to a Janome Dealer and I tried out their 6600 and the Horizon, but couldn't decide. The 6600 had the thread tree thingy and I could just see what fun my cats would have with that. The Horizon sewed really well, but the front of the machine bows out over the needle area and I had to lean back to see the buttons and couldn't even see the needle path around the needle to thread it. The knee lift was hard and I wondered if I would just be changing elbow pain with knee pain. I probably spent a couple of hours at the shop. We then decided to stop at a Babylock dealer 15 minutes before they were to close. I just planned to see what the cost was. The owner showed me the Symphony and we brought it home. Now, I am worried I didn't do due diligence in my search- to make a decision in 15 minutes. We have a Bernina dealer and a Viking dealer nearby. Should I have shopped more?

I used it some last night, and I don't even feel like I am sewing-just pushing buttons. Kinda scarey and awesome at the same time. There is a button that starts and stops the machine and a speed control, a button that lowers and raises the presser foot in addition to the knee lift, a button that raises and lowers the needle, and another button that cuts the thread. There is an automatic threader that is simplicity itself. It sews laterally and diagonally. The strangest thing to me- the bobbin thread doesn't come up from the bottom. Can that be right? Until January, I hadn't sewed for over probably 40 years, so I know I am behind the times. Have things changed that much?

Does anyone own a Symphony? Have you had any problems? Does the thread come up from the bottom? Did I make the right decision?