Thanks so much for all the thoughtful replies and messages! I've got some work to do looking through the suggestions. I guess my main hesitation is that I've never sewn on one or even, for sure, seen one in person. I learned on an old Singer cabinet machine, but I know it wasn't a FW.
I've been to the All Saints Store. At first I was amazed by the sewing machines, then saddened that they won't get to sew anymore. Their clothes are ... interesting and the sizing is for the very thin.