I learned on a Nolting mid arm when I worked at a LQS and when I retired I had so many top that is would be expensive to have someone else quilt them. So I bought and very old quilting machine on Craigslist for $1,000. after 2 years I had quilted several quilts but it only had a 9in throat and since I had learn on a 16" this would not work for much longer.
So I sold this machine for$900. also on Craigslist. I then continued to search on Craigstlist for another machine and found a used Handi Quilter 16 for $5,000. with a 10 ft table. I quilt for myself and for others and have had it for 5 years and I love working on "Harriet", we had a major repair recently but for $2,500, I could not have got another as good as this one. I do not have any regrets..