Personally I wouldn't get hung up on the stitch regulator at the expense of other features. I'd take a balanced view of all possible machines based on the kind of sewing you like to do. I FMQ on my Janome 6600, no stitch regulator just a bit of practice. I also know ppl with LA systems who turn the stitch regulator OFF because they prefer the freedom of controlling stitch length themselves. All I'm saying is, I wouldn't buy a machine JUST because it had the stitch regulator - I'd consider ALL it's features. You CAN FMQ well without one. :-D