I spoke to the local (kind of) shop and I wasn't impressed. He was telling me to get the 18LS instead of the 18. He also quoted me $2k more than what all other places are selling the 18 for online. He said that I wouldn't like it, that I would want to upgrade to the LS. He doesn't have the 18 in stock either. I just felt like he wanted to sell a certain model (that he has) rather than what I was asking him for.
The difference between the 18 and the 18LS is the Lizzy Stitch. It stops stitching when you stop moving, starts when you start moving.