I wouldn't call myself a serious hobbyist, I get out 6-10 times a year. I currently have an AT Pro. It's an ok machine. I live in an area of PA where I encounter a decent number of guys searching our public areas. I see lots of posts from owners of other machines finding coins, rings, etc. left behind in heavily searched areas. I am considering upgrading to see if it improves my luck. While I am fairly tech savy, I am not looking for something I need to be an IT tech to run. I do like searching in water at my local state park beaches. Comfort is also a consideration, turning 63 this year, so swinging a stick for hours isn't as easy as when I was in my 30's.My budget is around $1000.