I have a 7530 (same era, not quite as many features) and love it, but it is an older machine. A friend had the 1472(?) which is a tad older and just bought a new machine because our dealer couldn't get parts to it or it would be too expensive to fix. They're great machines, but if there's no guarantee, $500 sounds like a lot. If you can afford it, I'd buy a new machine.
I think I'd still buy Pfaff since my IDF really IS that important to me. My friend got a new one for around $1200 I think. Her new one is almost TOO automatic, as she hates the fact that she can't manually raise the pressed foot to move her fabric just a tiny tad.
You'll have to let us know what you decide.
Judy (with a J)