Miriam I''m with you.
I wouldn't turn down a featherweight if the price was right but I'm not about to pay $200 and up for one either. Yes, they are cute but they are so small that in my opinion you lose some of the utility of a larger machine. I think the other machines make more sense. The Singer 301 machines tend to be inflated in price compared to the other machines too though not as bad as the featherweights. From what I've seen online they use the same bobbin as the featherweights which for some reason sell for $30 and up as opposed to $10 or less like most machines.
I haven't got my grubby fingers on one yet but the aluminum 99 clones like the Sewmor 303 that Joe has seem like they would be a good bet for a lightweight, useful vintage machine.
My two cents,
Rodney