On my new one the feeddogs lower. And I don't know how to do fmq, so it wasn't a problem with the other one. It wasn't until I got the new one that I realized what that plastic plate was for! (O: I like my touch and sew, but I've only ever had Singers, so nothing to compare to. I'm not good enough to justify spending big bucks on a machine. Plus it's strictly for fun for me. I don't do commissioned quilts or quilts that I might sell.