Six months before I retired I bought myself the Janome MC 6600P from a very established shop in San Diego. They had advertised it with the sewing table as part of the purchase. I purposely went in late to see the machine, thinking I would check out a few, go home think about the different machines and return the next day. Like you I wanted a new modern machine (my others are a Singer 12-91 circa 1949, and a 1925 treadle machine) and I didn't want to buy something with a lot of things I would never use. The place where I bought it had free lessons for the first 2 years, if you keep the box you want to up grade they give full cost up-grade for 6 months. Needless to say, I took the machine home, set up the table and after the first class I knew I was going to keep the machine. (But just to be sure kept the box and all the packing material for well over 6 months. I even bought the traveling case on wheels - the brand that starts with a "T" so nothing would happen to it while taking my classes to learn more on how to use it.
Two years later I bought the Viking Topaz 20 - it is a sewing and embroidery machine. After being on this site and going to shows I became infatuated with machine embroidery and the Topaz is not an over-the-top embroidery machine and my sister had moved 1300 miles away, so she wasn't here to talk me out of it. But I can honestly say, it is so much fun that I am so glad I bought it! A friend and I get together and have so much fun. And I have made a few quilts with embroidered blocks that turned out even better than I thought they would. Now I just need to get brave and try quilting with it.
So go and try out several brands and several levels. I know my shop would let me buy it on time with no interest, but I ended up paying cash because I could. Ask them too what type of return policy they have in case you get one home and decide you want to up-grade. At first all the bells and whistles seem like a waste, but once you learn how to use them you may want to up-grade sooner than you think.