I succumbed. I ordered one -- yes, it's a luxury, but I'm worth it :-)
I've also been watching Jean Brown's video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeSSyueipPw
and think her way of hand quilting is totally brilliant!
So I ordered an *Aunt Becky* tool [I hate having my finger pricked] and her deep well tip kind of thimble [Needleart] and so am just waiting for everything to arrive to try it all out. My pre-pre-pre Christmas gifts to me :-)