I totally understand your daughter's frustration. When I was growing up I had my mother's 15-91 in the cabinet and it always sewed perfectly. Then as a wedding present in 1973 I was given a Singer portable, not a cheap one, but it was when they started using those horrid nylon gears and that thing was a waste of time. I quit sewing because each time was more frustrating than the time before and that machine was in the shop way too often.
My sister got the Brother machine at Costco - it came with a small table (think that is what it is called) so it has a larger flat space, it came with a few quilter's presser feet, a carrying case and was extremely reasonably price. She bought hers over 10 years ago and is still using it.