Thank you all for your wonderful insight - I decided to ‘test drive’ a new 8900 at a retail dealer today just to get a feel for how a new 8900 performs. The only difference is the shop had the blue ‘special edition’ version and the machine I have an option on is a regular 8900 (gray face plate). Not sure exactly what the difference is between the two but assume it’s accessories and perhaps some features. I liked it well enough but then made the mistake of trying the 9400 which is quite a feature-rich, beautiful machine with fabulous lighting - however, the stitches were equally as nice on both. I should know better than to drive the Lexus when I’m trying to operate on a Ford budget LOL.
I’ve decided I will make the drive to test the used 8900 and if it performs well and is in excellent condition then I will likely buy it. It’s priced far, far below the new 8900’s and I think it will suit me well as I continue to improve my skills.
Thank you, again, for taking the time to share your experiences... it’s been very helpful!
Christine