Thank you Jo.......it did not occur to me to go out and test drive sewing machines. Of course that is the thing to do. I am so rooted to my computer that I never shop in shops, but this is one thing I should look at 'in person' before I order it.
And then again, though I know you are right, it is so much easier to just have it come to the door....there are automatic threaders now, and vertical bobbins, all sound like improvements. I wonder if they are.