Like AnitaSt and Solomae, I bought the 430 instead of the 440. I have had it for a few years. I do agree that the harp size is not fun to do fmq with. I recently bought a Pfaff QE4 because of the harp size and it does have the 9mm stitch instead of the 5, so even though I have no interest in embroidery, it does make the decorative stitches more useful, to me at least. I have no experience with Janomes, but it seems everyone loves them. I do enjoy the larger harp size and the auto thread cutter which my bernina does not have.