Another vote for you to take a look at the Singer S18. It is identical to the Janome 6500P, for less money and sews like a dream. Only thing I can find wrong with it so far is that I've had to buy a little accessory light because the light isn't bright enough, but maybe that's just me.
As everyone says, test drive a bunch of machines at a dealer. Take a quilt sandwich with you and give them all a good try before you decide. And don't be intimidated. At one dealer, the guy stood over my shoulder the whole time I was trying the machine. At another dealer, the man left me to it and went into the back room, telling me to call if I needed anything. You can guess which dealer I ended up buying from!
Watson