There are lifetimes of good ideas and advice on this thread. I am making serious mental notes. Wow!
I am late but let me vote for looking at the Bernina 1630. It is an older machine - say, maybe 15 years? - but when I get the new sewing machine itches and compare that model to what's in the stores today, .... I am sticking to it. It is computerized, with memory, and, with few exceptions, every bell and whistle today's machines have.
The machine does have a downside but it is a downside that it shares with every other machine on the market - the manufacturer wants to sell more machines and those machines are ever more internally coplex: what I program into my 1630 can be updated but there are no new designs available for the machine. Only the ones available when the machine was new. And, honestly, there are somethings it doesn't have: larger harp, larger hoop, won't connect directly to your computer using a particular operating system, and a few others that aren't coming to me this minute. Then there is the issue of computer problems. Mine has gone lots of hard and persnickety miles with me without a hiccup and I do all the cleaning, oiling, etc. on it. But, when I wanted to take it in for a really "from top to bottom" go over, there was no one in my area who had a tech who was familiar enough with that particular machine to do it. I have never had a mechanical part develop a problem.
My machine was thirdhand to me. The professional quilter who originally owned it had 3. 3! Good heavens. She bought them in FL, used them all and sold 2 of the three before she returned to Canada. One went to my best friend. The other was sold but never picked up by the buyer or used and sat in its case in the best friend's sewing room for a number of YEARS. My Elna died and that's another story. On my friend's advice, I bought the 1630 from its second owner for $400 - a lot cheaper than the $1,800 she paid for it. I congratulate myself every time I sit down to sew.
That "congratulations" thing is what I wish for you. Sorry about being so longwinded. Please let us know what you finally decide. Applause.
Pat