I owed a 7700 for 5+ years. I told my husband this is the last machine I will ever buy! Turns out that was a lie. I really liked my 7700. I taught myself how to machine quilt on it. It was reliable and did everything I needed it to do. I didn't love the "jog" dial, but after a bit, I got very used to it and it was not problem. I really was ok with that machine. Then, I went to a quilt show and ended up buying a Janome 9400. It was a crazy good deal and in the end, I just could not pass it up. I sold my Janome for $1,000 (asked $1,200). So my advice would be that they are a good machine and if the price is right, you would have a good machine.