I think it depends on what you are going to do with it. I make quilts for myself and charity. I have no desire to turn my hobby into a job. I bought a used HQ16 for a very reasonable price. I had tried new ones and knew I liked this machine.
It does not even have a stitch regulator and I am fine with that. I just do edge to edge type patterns free hand across the front of the machine. I quilt about 100 quits per year on it.