I started quilting with a high end machine (Viking Designer 1 - turned out to be overkill for me), sold it, and bought a Pfaff with less bells and whistles. However, I use my 1950 Featherweight more often than the Pfaff for any piecing, but any basic machine with a straight stitch minimum will do.
As others have already stated, the cost of the machine and the bells and whistles do not make the machine nor the quilter. You do with what you can afford. The other option is go to hand piecing, which costs nothing but time and thread. Many people find that peaceful.