I have a Bernina that my mom passed down to me that I learned on. It's as old as I am and I have learned all my sewing on it. I have used it for piecing, quilting, apparel assembly and some easy fancy stitches. I love that it is the one I am most familiar with and I think it's a fantastic machine. What I love the most is that I have used it to sew on everything from Silk to leather and it keeps going. My friends ask to borrow it all the time because it's all metal, and is heavy duty for a portable personal sewing machine.
As for things being overpriced. Yes that can be prohibitive starting out, but I believe it would be worth it in the long run as people don't tend to sell them at yard sales, they will them to their children.
Oh yeah, mine is an 830