I can't find any features on this machine that make it better than the Brother Innovs PS500 I bought 2 years ago. It is my travel machine and I love it.
Adding to the above, buy a machine you can grow into. I'm also a huge fan of good financial stewardship, I've saved and paid cash for everything I bought except my first car.
General sewing machine advice? slow down. Use the right needle. read your manual. Take off the plate and clean out the bobbin area every 3-4 bobbins. get the surround for a flatter surface or a table you can set the machine into, huge difference in sewing comfort and accuracy.
Take some of your own samples to the shop and run them through the machine. they use stiffened cheesecloth which anything can sew through and make beautiful stitches
You should be able to get something that lasts many years in the $700 dollar range. There are features I love on my $6000 Viking, but running fabric through? my 700.00 machine does the exact same thing. and ask if they take trade ins! saves you some cash if you don't like the machine you have.
Lots of bag makes love their mechanical Juki, check them too. No fancy stitches but you can do your own service work.