All the major brands are good. I am a Pfaff lover because of the IDT and my arthritis. It doesn't eat my fabric at all. I select the throat plate based on what project I am working on: fancy stitching vs plain straight stitching. I don't always use leaders but hold the thread ends just like I did when I was young and learning to sew in home ec class.
My question for you are:
- What do you want your machine to do? Have a list of your needs and your wants when you look at each machine. No use buying an expensive machine if you don't need all the features it offers.
- What is you budget. Would you consider a used machine? New machines might have a 6 months same as cash offer from whatever store you buy it from.
- Do you personally have special needs: poor eyesight, arthritis, etc.
- The the really important determinant after all the above: which machine do you bond with. I mean which machine are you intuitively able to use without any difficulties.
Keep your notes as you go through the process if you think you'll forget anything. Make the journey fun, however you do it. Know that each person has their own preferences, which might not be yours.