As a beginner to sewing and quilting, there is something about the Featherweight that makes it less intimidating than other machines. The tiny cuteness and the knowledge that I would have to work very hard to find a way to damage it, and then could probably fix it myself, make it easier to start sewing. Though I must say that as a beginner both in sewing and fixing up vintage machines, I'd never have bought one if I hadn't gotten very lucky in a big antiques mall and found one that had been poorly home-serviced (there was a screw put in backwards in the bobbin area that made it unusable, but was easily fixed) and marked down to a price I'd pay.
It does make lovely stitches.