I did get the BSR with my 440 several years ago, because I was very sure I could never learn to FMQ, but I have learned! Practice, practice, practice. Really.

I have a very old Bernina Artista 200 to which I added a BSR when it came out. Maybe I'm lazy; but I really love the BSR. It makes FMQ possible for me.

I have a Bernina with BSR and I love it! I use 2 all the time.

I have done some FMQ on my own (on my vintage Bernina 830 Record), but enjoyed it much more when I was test-driving Berninas with the BSR.

I purchased a 550QE w/BSR last summer and am practicing on small projects in preparation for doing some larger, "better" quilts.

I have no desire to do embroidery so I didn't consider the other 500 machines, and we full-time in a fifth-wheel, so the 700 and 800 series machines were too big for the space available.

Good luck with your decision.