I'm rather new to quilting and I have - Brother Project Runway PC420PRW 294-Stitch Professional
It has everything I need at this point and everything I want (needle up/down, auto threader, auto thread cutter, enough decorative stitches, walking foot, fmq quilting foot). The throat size is 7 1/2" and the height 4 3/4". Now, granted I haven't done too much Free Motion quilting (FMQ) on it yet myself. Perhaps when I get better at that, then maybe I'll realize I want a different machine.