I bought an A-1 this past summer. At first I had buyer's remorse. It was a whole new learning curve! I thought man I could send all these quilts out and would it add up to what I spent? But you know what? I wouldn't send them out because I am too cheap and would have struggled under my Bernia to quilt them and it would have taken a week what now takes me a couple of nights on my A-1. I have fallen in love with it. I am in Real Estate and had been talking about it for some time. So when I finally sold a "couple of big ones" I took the plunge. I bought the mid price one ($15,000). I had taken over my daughter's bedroom for quilting at that point and it fills up the room but I LOVE my machine and I glad I bought it now.
We actually had to bring it in by a window because the 12 foot table wouldn't turn the stairwell. The table weights about 150 lbs!!! So think about that if you are thinking of buying one too. And the investment in cone thread.
But I am happy I bought it and Diane (the rep) came up and spent 3 days with me showing how it works etc. Now thinking of going to the longarm conv. in Kansas in May! We also have a longarm bee in our guild and that is an excellent group to help answer all my questions!
Good luck with your decision.