My Project Runway Brother that I purchased at my local quilt shop has been a honey of a machine. I paid around $300, if I remember right. It is easy to load the bobbin, easy to set up, the tension self adjusts, and it never needs to be oiled. And it is lightweight enough to carry to any classes I wish to attend. I use it for piecing and it has a 1/4" quilt setting built in. I hand quilt, so did not need a machine heavy enough to handle that. I think it would be a great beginner machine. Have had it for four years now, and never had a problem.