I'm sorry that she told you Janomes needed more repair... I purchased my Janome 6600 in 2010 and have only taken it in for cleaning. I love how sturdy and dependable it is, in fact, I liked Janome so much, I purchased an 8900 for the larger throat space. : )
I also chose the brand because I have a local dealer and great service. I would not ever hesitate to buy a Janome machine.