I don't believe you'll be happy very long with a standard throat size on a domestic machine. Buy the best you can afford, after trying them all out at a major quilt show. You'll be happier while using it, and if the time comes that you want to sell it, you'll be selling a machine which is more desirable to interested buyers. Decide what your "must have" features are, and go from there. Remember there are always used machines available, and quilters advertise them on the internet on various sites. House of Hanson is one of those. The dealers usually have used machines available for sale, too, from people who trade them in for a newer or larger longarm. You can always get more bang for your buck by buying used, and commercial machines run forever with regular oiling. Take your time with this decision so you'll be satisfied for a long time. And have fun shopping!