I am on the look for a T&S. They have a bad reputation but when quite a few out there describe them as their favorite machine and it's the one they use the most, there has to be something to them. If it's mainly getting to know the machine I'm willing to spend some time with them. The fancy bobbin functions are intersting. I guess it's as Miriam mentions, best to do some investigation on the model we spend time and money on. The plastic gear replacements we get these days are good quality, but of course never quite the same as forged steel.