Buy what you can afford and not lose sleep over. I have one friend who could buy a dozen of any machine she wants anytime she wants. What does she buy? She buys the inexpensive WalMart sewing machine, sews on it ninety to nothing until it breaks and then buys another one. Those machines will machine quilt! They usually last her about a year or more. So it's all a matter of what you feel comfortable buying. I've never heard a bad word about a Bernina. If you plan on using the same machine for years buy a quality brand name machine.