The needles can be had - they are the same as some serger needles. As far as lifting it to change the bobbin... that is why you get a cabinet with a hand hole in it - then just change the bobbin from underneath. I love the 319s and my DGKs think it is the BOMB! The 306s are work horses. The 206 is a workhorse. I think they are all undervalued. The other ones I like are the 328s. A bit lighter weight and noisy but I like them with the drop in bobbin. I think the 306 and the 328 are pretty equal in what they are capable of doing.