Ive got a Viking Sapphire and love the needle down feature that lifts the foot a little when you stop sewing. Easy for chain sewing and turning. Don't have a thread cutter but that's no big deal. It does have a larger throat area than a standard machine and I like that also. It was $1100 and that was expensive for me. It is not an embroidery machine so bought a cheap Brother for what little embroidery I do.