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It depends on how serious you are about the hobby. These things aren't cheap, and if you only want to knit a pair of socks now and then, it's hardly worth it. But if you knit regularly and notice you're spending too much time doing it by hand, then a machine can make sense. I wouldn't just buy one blind though - try to test one somewhere first. Some shops have demo models, or there are knitting communities where people lend out their machines.
One thing a lot of people overlook: the learning curve is really steep. Even if you're good at hand knitting, operating the machine is a completely different thing. The yarn has to have the right tension, you have to insert the needles correctly, and your first attempts often just end up with loose stitches or holes. A lot of beginners get frustrated and give up before they even finish a decent sweater. Factor in a steep learning curve.
My tip: Before you decide on a specific machine, check out YouTube to see how the community works with it, and especially look into spare parts availability and support. With some older models it's genuinely a pain to find needles or replacement parts. And honestly - buying secondhand from someone who just lost interest is cheaper and you get to see the machine in action first.
Brother machines for hobbyist knitters are actually decent value for money if you knit regularly and not just occasionally. The problem is that you should really test beforehand whether the automatic functions are practical for you or whether you'd end up preferring to hand knit anyway - a lot of hobbyists underestimate how specific the operation is and that you constantly need to refer to the manual. If you're unsure, I'd first try out a used machine with someone nearby or take a beginner course to get a feel for it before you spend several hundred euros.
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