Acorn, do you remember that Lolli was looking into getting an overlocker may be a year to eighteen months ago. She looked at Bambers and finally decided to go with Machine Steve over in Kings Lynn. I believe she was impressed with how Steve went about sorting her out with the right machine for her again I believe a Juki, and she also got some extra goodies thrown in and all delivered very quickly. Sadly Lolli hasn't been on TSP for quite some time so we do not know how she got on with her overlocker.
Thinking again about what you intend to use the machine for as well as sewing items for you, if I couldn't get hold of a Bernina because of the price, I think I would consider Juki - if they are made in the same place and by the same people who make for Bernina that makes me think this would be a excellent machine and would last you for many years. After all you do not want to buy a cheap one now, and then wish that you had bought something better in a short while.
Going back to my smaller Bernina 1100DA (bought in 2003) I immediately fell in love with the ease and look of the roll hem effect. As I have said previousy I was making my daughters wedding dress, my own outfit and her bridesmaids dresses and had to change overlockers three weeks before the wedding. I personally am a large lady, my outfit was in ivory with sprigs of burgandy flowers all over, my top had an enormous bust dart which of course showed through, so I sliced it off (had never done it like this before) and then finished it off by a neat rolled hem, it really worked a treat. Changing to a rolled hem is done by simply moving a lever to the front right by the needle plate - it really is as easy as that.