I didn't look at the Janome 6500, I just browsed a few local quilt shops. I didn't know what I was doing enough to compare. I bought the Janome 6600 and I LOVE it. I never thought of myself as a serious sewer either, but I keep doing more and more.
I am hoping that with this work horse of a machine I won't have to buy another one (but then I did
I bought a smaller Janome Magnolia to take with me)