Some of us deep thinkers/slow typists get timed out all the time. It happens so much to me that I've learned to copy my post before hitting reply.
Welcome to the boards. Although I say I'm from Alaska I did spend my Senior year of High School in Moscow, ID and it was there I made my first quilt back in 1978.
If you are getting a boxed machine, it really doesn't matter who you get it from. You are unlikely to get it serviced, if it breaks you just get a new one. My modern computerized 820 Bernina needs to go to the shop, I don't know but I'm estimating it will be about $300 for a service/repair which is my usual price point for buying a machine -- but not one with all the bells and whistles and the deep throat of the Bernina.
I'm also a fan of vintage machines for heavy duty, the old ones -- 1940s to 1950s, all metal and maybe as advanced as zig zag. A good strong straight stitch and the ability to do upholstery! Mine own is a Remington, Morse is another brand I love. I dropped the foot pedal on my Remington when I was putting it up instead of Bernina and put it temporarily out of commission. I am currently using about the lowest end Brother possible that I bought in the box at the thrift store for $20 as a portable light weight class machine because working beats non-working any day of the week! It is doing fine with my piecing, I'm actually impressed with the accuracy of the 1/4" quilting foot, but I don't want to attempt quilting on it mostly because of the light weight and small throat space.