Hi, A lot depends on how much you want to spend and what features you just can't live without. I presently own 4 Berninas and a Singer featherweight. In the early 90s I worked for more than a year in a shop that sold Berninas and did custom dressmaking and alterations. I quickly fell in love with all of their machines. I owned a bottom of the line serger and embroidery machine that I had purchased from them before I worked there. I was able to purchase my 1260 model sewing machine with my generous employee discount. I have since upgraded both my Serger and Embroidery machines to more advanced models and recently purchased another sewing machine that was less expensive but a lot lighter in weight. I know that I can barely sew without the knee bar. My latest purchase while as advanced in the selection of stitches as my 1260 it did not come with the kneebar or the footpedal that raises the needle when you kick the back of the pedal. I paid a couple of hundred dollars extra to have the kneebar added and will upgrade the footpedal as soon as possible. The main reason I purchased the newer machine was for the lighter weight to take to retreat etc.
As a quilter I can barely function on a machine that doesn't have a kneebar that lifts the presser foot. Features like the needle down option certainly come in handy when peicing, appliquing or quilting.
The good news is that many of the decorative embroidery stitches are available in the lower priced machines. All of the bells and whistles are great but they cost more. You get what you pay for.