Thank you for having this conversation. Peaceandjoy, I have been having fits of your problem, the "Gee it might be nice to have one of those-itis." I just don't seem to be able to make the jump.
My problem is that for marketing and cash flow reasons the manufacturers do not support their older machines beyond bits and pieces like feet. There are a lot of people who sew but there is a smaller group who is capable of paying thousands of dollars for a machine with all kinds of bells and whistles. And there is a smaller group within that original group who can buy the ongoing embroidery patterns, etc. And an even smaller group within the second group who will buy and use them.
And then there is the problem of having the complicated, computerized machines serviced. Or having someone at the company OR local level knowledgable about their innards talk to you about a problem or a "how to best do" something. And the most concerning for me is finding a local service person who can do more than I can (which is a thorough cleaning and dusting). (Yes, I have gone to all but one of the local dealers [another story] and was told they did not have anyonewho serviced/repaired the old machines.) I have contacted the manufacturer and was not even gifted with the courtesy of a response. I went out of town, discussed the service needs of a machine I already own and was told they would not do the fix because it was too much work. No one had even started to talk about cost! Gracious!!!
I may submit to the above mentioned "-itis" but not just yet. And absolutely not locally. If there is a fix for the difficulties above, please let me know and I will probably be in the front of the "sell it to me now" line somewhere.
Getting off soap box now,
Pat