I have both a Bernina and a Janome 9500. I started to have problems such as your friend mentioned soon after I brought it home. I took it back to my dealer. She calmed me down, showed me what was happening and showed me how to remove the bobbin and bobbin case and to clean with a small brush and to watch our for small bits of thread. (Read remove all the bits of thread that accrue when one must rip out a seam.) By following her instructions, I can avoid the problem, or, if it occurs, I know how to fix it and it reminds me of what I must do to avoid the problem. I cannot imagine feeling that a machine such as you mention could compare to a Bernina or a Janome.