I have the $169 machine from Costco, and I love it!
My last Brother machine from there held up for 10 years until it fell 6 feet to a hard floor.

I sewed everything from denim and heavy canvas to chiffon and silk.
But, yeah... the new machine runs fantastic, and it comes with a load of extra feet, like a rolled hem foot (which is a godsend), and the accessories alone are worth more than the cost of the whole package. (Some of the feet sell for $30 each.) It also includes a detachable platform which helps when sewing larger projects.
My only gripe - the "hard case" is more like a hard cover. It has no bottom, but it does help to protect the machine.