Congratulations! Happy for you! My suggestions:
Test ALL features of the machine using your fabrics, sandwiches, decorative threads, etc. Check the machine's quilt features, pivoting abilities, piecing, hand look quilting, decorative stitches such as feather stitches and stippling. Make sure the stitching is uniform all around, including tension. Ask yourself how comfortable the threading is--does it seem easy for you? Also take a good look at the bobbin area--top load vs front or side load--how do those measure up for the type of sewing you will do with this new baby. Check the pricing of accessories--feet for some makes and models are terribly expensive! Now, for embroidery: check the ease in hooping, can the machine switch back and forth from utility sewing to embroidery mode without taking off the embroidery arm(mine can switch from sewing to embroidery with no movement of the arm once it is plugged into the machine--it spoils me!!) I also like a machine with separate bobbin winding function so that I can sew and wind thread onto bobbins while working--a time saver!! Also, you want to look at the computerized navigation features of the machine you choose--is the format going to be user-friendly for you? Make certain that you get at least a YEAR of freebie classes on your machine, in addition to user orientations. This is essential!! Pricewise, I would push for about half of the sticker retail price of the new machine--this has been my rule of thumb, which has pretty much held up.
Brands: Babylock, Bernina, and Janome are my picks, Viking is pretty good, but I think are stinkers to thread--at least for their sergers. Which 3 are you considering, btw??
Let us know what you choose, maybe send a picture of it when you get it. Best of luck to you! So happy for you. I guess I would tell DH you need the right tools to do the kinds of sewing you want to do, and that cheaper machines don't quite provide that ability with good results.