I have a BSR for my Bernina and I never use it. I used it unplugged so my DH would think I was loving it! The stitch regulator is what I thought I had to have to get better, but it only threw me off.
As others have said, drop the feed dogs. Also, if one is available for your machine, get a straight stitch plate. It only has a small, single hole for the needle instead of a wider space for zig-zag. Your stitches will be better balanced and the thread will not get tangled and jammed. Just remember to switch to the regular zig-zag plate before doing zig-zags or decorative stitches! Just trust me on this one! LOL