When I bought my Janome 6600 I started off looking at a smaller, simpler machine.
The dealer pointed out that it's better to buy a machine that's a little bit MORE than what you need NOW, so you have room to grow. At first I thought that was just a bunch of hooey and they just wanted to upsell me but then I thought about it and really took a good look at the 6600 and what it could do and realized she was right. So I took a small risk and spent the extra $$ and I am SO GLAD that I did!! I've only had the machine about a year and a half and I've definitely grown into it. Now I want to add a true longarm to my arsenal of tools but I just don't have the space for a frame and not sure I want to compromise with a sit-down machine.
Now I'm wishing I would have thought about buying a HOUSE that was more than I needed because I need to upgrade my home so I have room for my sewing toys! LOL