The only comment I have to make is if you decide bernina get bernina not bernette....they are the low end cheaper version and have a reputation for the motors carking out after 12 - 18 months or so. The old bernettes were awesome when they were all metal and quality parts (we also had them at school) but the new ones are pretty dodgy and the motor in them is a cheaper version to what goes into a true bernina. I pray that yours is the exception for you snugglybean!

Oh and the D model on the brothers BG stands for Disney. there are certain models of the brother machines that are the only ones that can take the disney cards...thats the only diff between the D models and the rest. It is a bit of a scam really to get you to pay the extra dosh just so as you can get the extra embroidery cards...otherwise the machines are identical.

I have a Janome which has served me well but really want to upgrade to a bernina or brother industrial machine.......domestic machines just seem to go so slow for me these days!