I think the halo is pricey also. I have used the machingers, and I think it is really what you get used to. I bought some fabric grippers from the gypsy quilter (they make the gypsy gripper for your rulers) and got two sizes for less than the halo by itself. I like it okay but admit it does take some getting used to.

I saw the person using two and three at Paducah too. She said it gave her more grip and the fabric moved a tad at a time. It's made for small quilting designs, not any loop de loops.

Be sure that your machine bed is totally flat for this to work. I had a Bernina and it had a bit of a slope on the machine bed and the halo didn't sit on the entire surface so it didn't work.
On one of my other online groups one of the very prolific quilters says she likes it for very close stippling and filler, what she calls 'nose to needle' quilting.
I have not used it yet on my new machine, I do like using the Machingers brand of gloves.

Thanks for all your replys and for the link!