Quilting Machine Repair

I had the only repairman in Kingman come to look at my Homesteader.  I learned a lot and I'm sure he did, too.  He's not worked on a long arm before but we did okay.  I learned not to use 3 in 1 oil on the machine and apparently the Tri-Flo that I bought from the sewing machine place is not the right oil to be using.  I also learned that on my old machine the speed up and slow down was my motor.  He said the brushes get a varnish on them when the motor starts/stops and he took the belt off and ran the motor at full speed for about 20 minutes and now it is awesome. 
He was here for 3-1/2 hours and tweaked this and that.  He curled the spring loop so the thread wouldn't pop out, bent the loop down so the thread goes through the right spot, messed with my tension MANY times.  Sanded something on one of the tension discs that he felt was sharp and maybe causing my thread breakage.  Almost at the end he decided that the bobbin casing was bad.  I have another coming.  He also said I need a new belt and he'll bring me one.  I should have just ordered one when I ordered the bobbin casing.  I also ordered a new tension unit (just in case).  This is after I called the Homesteader company and found that they no longer make them but she gave me the part numbers and told me it is a class 15 machine.
I am looking for a new machine now.  I have had this one for 10 years.  I don't want a Cadillac, I just want something newer with a stitch regulator.  I'm looking to spend about $3000.  I'm looking at a Tin Lizzie Apprentice.  Hopefully, all works out well.