Jaybird,
I purchased a Kenmore 16231 earlier in the year after my Singer of many years pooped out on me. As I posted in another thread("Feeling overwhelmed by the choices..."), I do very basic sewing, similar to what you do. My 16231 fit into my old machine's table fairly well, so I didn't look into the plexiglass work table, so I can't comment on that. I find, for what I do, that it sews well, the buttonholer does a good job(you have to use a buttonhole foot), and I haven't had any problems with any of the zigzag stitches that I have used. I sampled every stitch on a piece of scrap fabric when I first got it, and there were no problems tension or thread bunching up. I am still getting a feel for it, as it was hard to let my old machine go. I noticed that a lot of machines now have those tiny halogen bulbs and I'm not impressed with the amount of light they put out, but then my machine is in a dark corner so I had to put up a wall lamp for additional lighting anyway. The general purpose foot seems a bit bulky to me, and I plan on looking for a different one in the future. But these are just minor things. It's like getting a new car and figuring out where everything is. I'm pretty happy with it so far. I do like the speed control button, and the "stop up/stop down" button. I have hemmed jeans, made some doll dresses and pillowcases, and I'm getting ready to make a twill blazer for my granddaughter. So far so good. I hope this info helps.

The really good news is that your machine is on sale. The bad news is that the plexi table will cost you $60 more.

Personally, I don't like extention tables because they get in the way. I got use to a free arm machine after having a Kenmore flat bed for years where sewing anything tiny or a cuff was a struggle. The free arm gives you a small sewing bed area where pant and cuff sew without the flat bed hassle.

I checked the Sears site and you can get a decent electronic (I have a 19365 I dearly love) that does more with more included for about the same amount of money and less quilting stuff. The 16231 is the quilters edition, good if you are a quilter because you get the quilting feet.

Hi Ladies,
Thank you so much for the info!! I am just wondering, since I do so much work on bigger items, am I going to like the small area of the free arm?? I will not be mounting the machine in a cabinet, because I move it all over the house to sew. It normally sits on a big desk, but if I am working on an item such as a bed spread, I move it to the dining table for more work space.
Stitchintime, I am on my way to the Sears site to look at the 19365. I appreciate your spending time to answer!!

The 19365 will run around $700.

The sewing bed slides off to give you the smaller space for the smaller sewing space, thus the free arm.