I started many years ago with an inexpensive Juki. It was difficult to thread (right order important) but it worked well. Then I got a very expensive Viking and it works very well, but still difficult to thread. A few years ago I went to a trade show and saw the Babylock air threader and bought it on the spot! I set the Viking to cover stitch (both the BL and VIking do that, but it is a pain to switch them over all the time) and haven't looked back! You can thread in any order, doesn't matter if a thread breaks, just re thread!!! Push a button to thread the loopers, air driven. About $2000-2500 depending on the model, but well worth it.