You have put a great amount of thought into your needs, perhaps you should keep saving your pennies, unfortunately the econmy is going to make a few more victims before it's done, you may be surprised what you'll find in a few more months; make do with what you have for now, if you can...I have a 1962 Singer to do binding ( from the second hand store $10.00 in 1991) ;a Neechi I traded 2 hours to repair a zipper for, for piecing; A Janome School model , bought in 2000 for 199.00 to peice; and my newest treasure... A Husky C200 to do quilting!