I have a Bernina frame which is made by Grace Company. I wish I had done a lot of research before buying it. It's a good frame but there are features I would have liked which it is lacking. So do your homework before you buy and, if possible, go to shops or a quilt show and see the different frames and their various features. With a quilt frame set up I think needle down is imperative. As for what it will be like for you - only you can answer that. As a hobby quilter will you use it enough to justify the cost (I certainly don't) or does the cost not matter. As for me, I can't imagine quilting on my sewing machine. I LOVE the feel of guiding the machine over the quilt to create something that may not be perfect but it's getting better as I go on. That for me is the best part of quilting.