When I bought my first machine 25 years ago, like you, I spent months of research, it came down to the Pfaff, and the Bernina 930. The customer service and the dealer freindliness of the Bernina team is what sold me. I went to the womans house and sewed with her for a day, that is how personal they were. When my husband bought me a machine for Christmas, did not even look around, he went straight to the same Bernina dealer, as he knew how happy I had been with them. Yes they have a great machine (I have the 820 now and love it) but the real selling point is the customer service. I have not checked out their on line support, but will as soon as I am done with this thread. Good luck with your decision. Remember a machine is only as good as the service behind it.