Whatever you do, be sure to try out many machines. That is what I did. I ended up with a Pfaff Expression 2.0 and I love it. I have been quilting 3 years but sewing 55 years. I love the wide throat, the built in walking foot, and the drop in bobbin. There is no way to put the bobbin in backwards, something I always did in my New Home machine, which is the machine I had before I bought the Pfaff. I still have the old machine, but it feels like a toy compared to my Pfaff....and it is noisy. My Pfaff isn't.
Enjoy the hunt!!
Dina