If you want a machine that is dedicated to free motion quilting, I would suggest you purchase a sit-down free motion machine because it has at least a 16" harp, nothing on either side for you to "bump" into, and costs much less than a long-arm and you can sit and work. You will have to spend more than $1,000 (mine cost $1,700), but if you are doing a lot of quilting, it will be worth it. Of course, if you need the machine to piece with, too., a FM machine won't work for you.
Handi-quilter, Baby Lock and Inova all have FM machines, but I purchased mine from Pennywinkle Valley Ranch. Their website is
www.sunshine16.com. Their machine was comparable to the HQ, except they don't offer a stitch regulator (which I would probably never use, anyway) but cost half the price. Also, the Sunshine 16 is a portable machine, will sit on any table, and only weighs 35 lbs, so it actually portable if you needed to take it to a sewing event. All the other brands come with a table (which you pay for) so you have to have room for the table.