of the "cool" features, I'd opt out of the thread cutter and instead make sure that you get a Needle up/needle down feature and an auto-lock stitch. I have a Singer H74 that I bought at Tues Morning (actually got one for my daughter and one for me for travel machine) that has all those features and bought for $300. I did have to make adjustments to the drop in bobbin, but after that it's been fine. I also had a very cheap Brother ($80) from Walmart (gave to DIL) that didn't have those features but FMQ great--feed dogs would drop, hopping foot worked fine, etc. So I'l also say look at the Brother machines that Walmart carries too.