Nilla,
If I read your original post correctly, you are specifically not wanting to FMQ (you mentioned you didn't like having to move the fabric yourself without feed dogs) - you want something you can straight-line and stitch-in-the-ditch with that will feed the quilt. Is that correct?
Michelle
Yes. I can do embroidery quilting on my regular machine if I want a little something extra in my quilts. I'm actually very good at stitch in the ditch in my regular sewing machine. I just don't like having to roll/fold/squish a large quilt under the throat of the machine. I'd like a machine that acts like my regular sewing machine for a straight stitch, just with a huge throat space.
FYI, between using the long arm or my regular machine to quilt, I much prefer my regular sewing machine.