I've got a Brother, SE 400, combo sew & embroidery. It's low end, introductory for that sort of machine, around 300 USD. It has the same needle threader as the 10,000 USD machines my friends have. It's a dream to use. You pull the thread through a couple of places to the left and into a little cutter, then push down a lever. Takes all of 2 seconds and works. My old eyes and hands appreciate it. For the most part, except for a few stitches I can choose to have it auto clip the threads or not. I'm in love with needle up or down; down please.
@WendyW the Brother has a little button on the side of the presser foot that levels the foot when you start a seam like you describe. Once it's begun stitching the fabric it releases. Maybe you've got that too but never knew about it? Hope so.
Since it embroiders too it stops stitching and sounds an alarm when I've got about 2 feet of thread left. I can over ride, sew 12 stitches, then it stops again.
And I love the auto stitching on this. You need to disengage the control pedal then can choose your speed. I've used it when sewing with friends at the quilt shop. This machine tracks really straight so I like to put two jelly roll strips on to sew, get up and go get something and come back. The expressions on their faces were priceless
It also means if you are going to sew with friends so long as you brought the power cord you can sew.