Mike,
I have done three quilts on the HQ16, using groovy boards, and I really didn't care for them. Very limiting in the designs, and you may need to purchase three or four boards of the same design so that you can continue the line across the whole quilt. As the stylus travels through the grooves, you have to get a good feel for which edge of the groove to travel against for a crisp stitching line, and especially points, such as stars.
Now that my LQS has upgraded to the computer and HQ Fusion, she has the machine rented out for use all the time, and had to purchase a second machine, the Avante. So much better for quilting! We can download designs and really get a custom quilt job done, with very little experience.
Rather than wait for a quilt show, maybe you can call on local quilters who own a machine and see if they will 'show' you their machine and get a feel for what is best suited for your needs. You could get some experienced opinions that way too.
Diane