After reading your post MM, I looked on Janome's website. Seems there is a Jem Gold, a Gold 2 and a Gold 3 as well as several other Jem models. They have a section for retired machines also and some of the Jems are there.
You make a good point that everyone who posts about their machines loves them and I can see where not using competitor's machines while using their loved machines can be a bad thing. How would you know what you're missing out on if you don't use something from the competition? This exact scenario happened to me recently. I've been a die-hard Janome fan for about 12 years now and used a Bernina to do some FMQ at a class where machines were provided. I could not believe how wonderful the Bernina was for FMQ and now I'm looking to buy one for FMQ!
Once you get used to your machine, you have a comfort level with features of that brand and some people stay loyal to that brand for familiarity (I did!). I love the needle threader, the knee lift lever and the fact that I can see the bobbin under the clear cover. The Jem doesn't have a knee lift lever (wish it did). I like that the snap-on presser feet are interchangeable between my two Janome machines. That won't be the case when I get a Bernina.
Nice to have you here on the board!