I've had the Janome 2000 for around 2/3 years now and has never been a problem apart from tunnelling on light fabric, which has now been solved. I use it in fits and starts, usually doing a two or three items on the trot, then it get pushed away for a few months.
If I had the money I would go for the Babylock, but only because everybody who has one seems to like them. However, I think if I had the money I probably wouldn't, I don't do that much with it other than hems, necks and sleeves, bit of a one trick machine for me really. But, it does do a good trick.