Hi Jamie,
I know you will find a great machine. I would like to say I have three and one being a Janome I purchased special in order to take back and forth to class. When it was demonstrated to me, the man did hold the thread for a stitch or two. Also, he never adjusted the tension and did the following: He put in silk... to folded up 3 or 4 folded layers of blue jean material and strongly suggested I not move the tension. He did NOT move the tension nor change the needle. He informed me that most people do not get the tension set back as they should and there lies a lot of their sewing problems. The Janome 7318 Magnolia I have is used throughout the school system in Wake County NC he informed me and it is a tough machine. I have indeed found this to be very true. I am not a sales nor spokesperson for Janome, but I do indeed enjoy my Janome, as much or more as I like my old 1950's or 1960's White Sewing Machine in Teal blue I found at a thrift store in a cabinet for $20.00.