I agree with the Avante. I picked up a used one from a local quilt store for $7000. I learned by doing charity quilts for the local guild while at the store for a few days. Then the previous owner came to my house and set it all up, plus left another charity quilt to do at my home, to make sure everything was working right before I tried quilting one of my own. I became very good at meandering and loop-d-loop, quickly ;-)
I've never had a problem with the machine and it was heavily used by many at the shop. I hear Handiquilter has excellent customer service, though I have not had to use them yet.