This is a great thread. I picked up a Singer 99 for my daughters. Hope they will like it!
My mom gave me a toy machine to learn on and it was total garbage. That stifled the learning process.. I ended up buying myself a used Kenmore with cams cause I was interested in the decorative stitches. Even at 16 that machine was too complicated for me (no one in my family sewed to teach me or help me troubleshoot). I sewed quite a few things on a Singer 66 treadle and I loved it. Very straightforward.