Hello,
I have a Janome 6500 that I have used for all of my sewing for over 5 years and I love it. I has the extended arm for handling large bulky items and many, many built-in features.
I make everything from clothing to home decor items (shower curtains, place mats, pillows, etc) to quilts and comforters using it and have had no problems.
In the past, I have taught sewing and purchased 7 Janome machines that were used by children and they worked fine.
I would suggest that you consult a sewing machine dealer that has many machines side-by-side so that you can purchase the one that fits your needs.
Hope this helps.....