I have had the same name brand of machines through all my years of sewing, except the first one. (a singer) This spans many years of owning bernina's. Six of them. I really "knew" my machines until my last one. It has way more bells and whistles than any of the others. It is hard to learn new ways to use a machine. I read it front to back but, I have to refer over and over to the manual for different tasks. I feel your pain, honestly! I think that I will not get any more technical of a machine. I enjoy sewing not having to use instructions.