mkc

If you are close enough to stop by that location, are you close enough to do the certification class and rent some time on one of the machines?

That is really the best way to fully evaluate a long arm. Don't just go by test drive. Spend a couple of quilt's worth of quilting time on one. Also try (both of you) different throat sizes. I'm only 5'3" and found the 26" machines to be too deep for my reach when using them for long periods of time. 22" was more of a sweet-spot for me.

For Innova, I believe the closest training center/dealer is Jo's Quilting Studio (although there appear to be several MetroMess sub-dealerships listed on the Innova website). Jo's is typically at the big Dallas Quilt Show in March and their team is super-helpful.

I tried several brands multiple times at the Dallas and Maine shows. I've rented time on both a Millie and an Innova. Had a lot of problems with tension issues on the Millie (had to pick out a LOT of stitches and redo) and the dealer was not really much help (quilt faster, quilt slower). The dealer seemed more interested in pushing a sale rather than making sure the machine impressed. The Innova feel, to me, was better and the more I used it, the more I wanted to keep using it.