I also got lucky and found an HQ16 that was gently used and less expensive than new and what they are now. I also go not extra bells and whistles (no stitch regulator).
I look at it like I did my domestic more than 15 years ago. I want to get good quality and what I will use because I will have this machine for the rest of my life. Hopefully someday when I stop working FT, I will be able to quilt more than I do now. And at that point I wont be able to afford it! So I had to do it when I did. I hope someday to maybe make quilts to sell (baby/lap) rather than specific quilting other peoples tops.