I have a Babylock Unity, a combo sewing/embroidery machine, and love it. Started with a BL Journey and loved it too but upgraded to the Unity for the laser and a few other features. For many years I had Vikings but shopped around and decided to switch. The LQS "encouraged" me to get the BL Designer but, although a sweet machine, I didn't feel the need for the WOW features that drove the price.
Most of the embroidery I do is edge-to-edge quilting, although I also work with motifs in some quilting blocks and use the embroidery function for quilt labels. I probably do not use it anywhere near it's capacity but am learning new things regularly so my use will expand as I go. I just finished a 4-part class on a Hoopsisters quilt and was so thankful to have a machine that could handle it.
Price - the Unity is over your $6K limit but if you wait for a good sale and have a trade-in or if you buy used, you could probably get very close to the price. The Journey is below $6K.
Please keep in mind that the machine itself is just the beginning of your embroidery expenses. There's stabilizer, the designs (although many free online sources), threads, maybe classes, and so forth.
I've been sewing and quilting for over 40 years and just got my first embroidery machine a few years ago. You'll love it!