I started quilting on a $189 Singer and put 100,000 miles on that machine. I used a Bernina after a few years at a class and knew I wanted one but had to wait several years before I could afford it. I've never been sorry I bought a Bernina but I would have never been in the position to really use it well without the many years I sewed on my Singer. You use what you can afford and be proud of what you create - that's what true quilters do.
Have your wife join us on this board - she'll see it's not about the equipment but about what you do with it. And you can create any quilt on a machine that just has a straight stitch.