I, too, would look carefully at the 8200. In fact, I compared it to the 8900 and realized the 8900 was more than I'd use, but the 8200 is ideal. Not that I bought it--I didn't, but I talked my friend into it and she LOVES it. If you have to take a class, do you have to lug your actual machine there to learn about it? It's very heavy. The $2200-$2300 range was a fabulous price including table that my friend got. I would really question an 8900 being that low. It's a lot more machine.