I am so sorry about your "sewing friend". If and when my Bernina goes, it may spell the end of my sewing career! I could more easily replace my husband than that machine...and he's NOT replaceable!
I had a Viking Mega Quilter on an Inspira frame for a short time and really liked the machine...the frame, not so much! It sounds like the machine might be just what you are looking for. It has a large throat space for a DSM and a built in thread cutter for both top and bottom threads. It was perfect for piecing, but I already had my Bernina for that. Otherwise I would have kept it.