Welcome to the board!
I'm a newish quilter who couldn't thread a machine until three years ago. I was surprised by how quickly I 'outgrew' the first machine I bought and quickly moved on to one with more features.
I think it depends on what you're planning to do with your machine. For some people a straight stitch is all they'll ever need or want.
For others, certain features are a necessity - needle down, thread cutter, auto tie-off, etc. (For me it's the auto-pivot as I do a lot of applique). I use quite a few fancy stitches on bindings, gifts and Christmas.
I've read quite a few posts asking similar questions on what machine to buy and the consensus seems to be, "Buy the best you can afford" - you just have to figure out what's best for you, lol. Good luck!