I can really sympathize with you! I had a PE700 at one time and it was not quiet at all.
You have a few issues here. Let's address the easy one, the alignment issue. This is a stabilizer issue for sure. Increase the amount of stabilizer you are using. Unless absolutely necessary, don't use tearaway. Tearaway fails when you have multiple stitches in the same small area. Be careful not to stretch your fabric when placing it on the stabilizer. Getting this right is just a matter of practice in my opinion. But remember that every fabric has a slightly different stretch point. I use the 'corner to corner' method where I take the fabric by the opposite corners and give it a stretch, I can see how easily it is manipulated.
I also had a dealer who was a 'stinker.' (I don't know why I should be so polite - they were not!). Make friends with the dealer 100 miles away. Ask to spend the day with the staff and get training, instruction and when possible, talk with the technician. Become their bff(s). Over the phone discussion is difficult, but it can be done. You can send photos over the Internet and a good dealer will assist you even if they were not the original sales point. They should have their eye on you for a newer, more expensive machine anyway.
Chat with others and ask questions. Learn from others but remember that their experience may or may not be the same as yours for a variety of reasons. Embroiderers love to help each other, take that help and you can pass it on one day.
Spend some time each day here at these forums because there are so many good ideas and issues that we all have. Ann's Forum is the BEST on the Net, IMHO. The others are non-existent or in no form at all.
The noise. It could be timing but most likely it is just the machine itself. Most machines do not recommend oiling them but check your manual. Mine had a pounding sound too. If a design is 'bullet proof,' that will cause that noise as well. Bullet proofing happens when the digitizer, for various reasons, has multiple layers of stitches atop each other.
Hope this helps!
Pat, The Avid Embroiderer