I researched for a long time - a good 2 years. I went to a couple of big quilt shows and played with every model that was out on the floor, jotted down my thoughts and compared them from the year before. It was easy for me to narrow down my choices that way, and better to compare them on the same day. I ended up with my 'dream' machine and my 'runner up' machine.
Last we we went and bought a machine that was neither of those :roll: - but it came in at a price point that allowed me to purchase it outright and not worry about making money with it. The long arm quilters I've been hanging around are of a mind that it is more the operator than the machine, which makes me more confident in my choice.
Most of the machines on the market are decent, manufactured by responsible companies - it really comes down to what you're comfortable with, both in a machine and in a price.