What about the Singer One? It has 7" of throat space plus a7" extension table. It is about $250. I have the 160 Anniversary edition and so does Annika, which has been replaced by the Singer One. Joanns had them on sale a week or so ago for $239. I got mine on Amazon for $250. You can drop the feed dogs, but it doesn't have a needle down option. Mine sews well. If Annika is doing her FMQing on this machine, she is really doing well with it