mkc

I would also suggest the multiple machine option.

A single, large throat machine that does embroidery as well will be fairly pricey. You also can't piece, quilt, and embroider at the same time. A dedicated piecing machine, a dedicated embroidery machine and a gently-used sit down can probably be bought for less than a new, biggest, baddest combo machine, and will give you better piecing, larger throat space for quilting, plus embroidery, and you can work on quilts while the embroidery machine churns away on its own. I haven't priced a standalone embroidery machine, but you can easily get a good piecing machine for under $1 and a gently used Sweet Sixteen for $3K. Some of the large, fancy, do it all machines are over $10K.

It's easy to get sucked into the expensive machines that do it all, but sometimes simpler is better.