I owe my $5 Singer 404 an apology. I have been using it at church and commenting that it isn't as strong as the 301 on thick seams. Today I discovered I have piecing with the feed dogs down. Duh! It is a good little machine after all.
SA's pricing is strange. $9.99 for a 50s Japanese clone in a pretty light color - the only thing I didn't like was the left dedicated needle. It sewed well. $29.99 for a light green and cream Kenmore whose flywheel only turned a few inches in either direction. If I were in the market, I wouldn't pay more for the one that doesn't work.