Not dumb at all! Bernina offers the stitch regulator on several models. 440, 640, 730, 820 and 830 are the most common. The 200 can be upgraded to use the stitch regulator. The Berinia stitch regulator is a foot, it also plugs into a special outlet in the machine. The foot uses a laser light, which calculates the movements of your fabric beneath the foot, and transmits the information to the needle, which then moves the needle up and down appropriate to the movement of the fabric, to make your stitches even. It still takes a little practice, but it makes a big difference. The Gammill long arms use 2 rolling wheels, to measure the movement of the long arm machine to control the needle.