Leah Day has a tutorial on you tube featuring the Janome HD 1000, under $500 machine, she compares the
Janome HD 1000 to the Bernina 830. All aluminum cast body. Her other favorite was the Janome Horizon 7700(big bucks).
I love my Pfaff 2044, I have seen them on Ebay.
Good luck on your qwest!