I know first hand how your wife feels! Way back in 1985, I went on a quilt retreat a won the Grand Prize which was a brand new Elna. I sewed the bobbins off of that machine!!! And once you sew on a "good" machine you can't go back to your old clunkers. I have worked my way up to a Bernina and I am in love....but it all started with the lucky day I won my Elna.....she went down doing me proud!!!!!!!