Most older machines have clutch motors, that are either on or off. You have to control the machine by feathering the foot pedal to just engage the clutch enough to move slowly ahead. If you have some type of variable speed motor, that is good.
Not having reverse only means that when you want to back tack at the end of a seam, you have to lift the foot, slide the work towards you about 1/2", let the foot down and stitch it again on top of the original seam to lock the seam down so it doesn't open up. If the machine has reverse, all you have to do is push down a lever to make the machine back up and then release the lever to tack over the end of a seam. Like I said before, reverse is not a necessity, but it sure makes things a lot easier. This machine should handle most, if not all of what you want to do, but it would be better if it was a 13 instead of an 11.
No one lives forever, the trick is creating something that will.