Please Let Me To Ask About Leather Sewing Machines

[Tallbald]

I'm older and have proriatic arthritis in hands, elbows yadayada. It's getting worse, and I fear I won't be able to keep doing this craft. I've considered selling some other stuff to buy a leather sewing machine not as a business but to keep up with my hobby. I'm not interested in an electric model, but rather something like the Boss or even an old foot operated model if I could find one. But I don't know this:

Right now all I do is a saddle stitch. Is a sewing machine stitch as strong as a saddle stitch? What do I lose by going to a sewing machine? Is there a cheaper alternative to a sewing machine? Thank you. Don