The Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2 is my dream machine! I'm sure if you're buying new from a local Pfaff dealer the machine (including the auto snips) will work great - they will see to it or replace the machine. ANYTIME I have ANYTHING of concern regarding my Pfaff (and it's usually not the machine but rather the user - me - at fault), my dealer is quick to help and patient to teach me what to do to keep it from happening again.
Mine did not come with the automatic thread cutter - which was the only thing in the "con" column when I was comparing different machines. The IDT **MORE** than made up for that feature!