You need to go to a large quilt show where dealers who are selling various models will have them on display. A DSM is just like a car, you have to test drive them and then haggle with the price. Paid a grand for my Bernina 1530 in the late 90s and I still love it. With quilting larger quilts, you just have to find someway to support the quilt on your left side and behind your machine.