I've been hand sewing for years, but was always too intimidated by the prospect of a machine to pick one up. I got this machine now that I decided to take the plunge, and it has already been worth every penny. It was super easy to set up, and I was away and sewing comfortably within a few minutes. The speed is something I consider a big pro, as well as the amount and thickness of fabric it can handle. The number of stitches also offers more variety than I need at this level, and I don't see myself outgrowing that any time soon, if ever. An important note is that the manual for this machine exists solely online as a PDF. For me, this is actually a pro, as it allows me to use my phone as a manual when at the machine and search through it with ease. I know others may not feel the same way or may prefer a paper manual, so if you're among that number, I would just remain cognizant of that fact when purchasing. (You could also always just print it out after downloading it, in any case)