My only suggestion is to make sure your room is big enough for a long arm machine and buy the biggest throat plate you can.

Another vote for an Innova.

Regarding Baileys, It is my understanding that what they call a stitch regulator is not really a stitch regulator but a speed controller. A true stitch regulator is a computerized sensor that rides on the rails of your machine and matches the needle stitching speed with your movements. You move slow the needle moves slow, you speed up the needle speeds up. You stop moving the needle stops moving without having to hit an off/on or go/stop button. You can set them to do a specific number of stitches per inch. I may be wrong, Baileys could have upgraded it in the past few years and may have improved on their offering.

sorry no help, but man can I borrow your hubby LOL!!