I like Kenmore products. I have a Kenmore machine right now. I like the fact that you have Sears support instead of a 1-800 number that never answers, or a company that you can't contact at all.
I think you'll be happy with your machine. Read the manual front to back and you'll get an idea as to what you can can use some of those stitches for.
I'll probably never use all of mine, but they're there just in case I should suddenly get creative...
Enjoy!!

Congratulations! Have fun.

My daughter and son-in-law gave me a Sears machine two Christmas's ago and I love it. They did give me a three year warrantee and I highly recommend it for you.

I sew a lot - mainly quilts plus tons of Linus quilts. During the first year the tension went out twice - they repaired it for free. This past year the tension went out once and again they repaired it for free. Before the warrantee wears out, I'm going to have it cleaned and checked.

Happy sewing. Yes, you deserve a new machine.

Only advice I have is read the manual and do the recommended maintenance religiously. Clean the insides of the bobbin area and change your needle often. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you should have years of use.

And have fun with it!

(I purchased my first new sewing machine in 1979. I still have it, still use it and still love it. But I'm also thinking about getting another new one soon - to do embroidery)