I've tried a few different methods of loading the quilt - found that process horrible too. I am now liking a system with velcro ... I made leaders that have a strip of velcro (loop side), and sets of secondary leaders that have the velcro mate (fuzzy side) - different sizes for baby size to queen size.
I sew the secondary leaders to the backing, float the top and batting. Am liking this now!
I have the Pfaff GrandQuilter Hobby 1200 (it has a 9" throat space), on a 12' table. I have not been happy with it - there is just not enough throat space, would like to move to at least the 18' throat.
I DIDN'T do enough research before I bought ...