I use my walking foot just like any other foot. Had never heard until today that you can't or shouldn't do reverse. Do it all the time. As I said in another place here on the board, "it's just a foot the machine does the reverse. Not sure what others do but I have 3 Janome machines and use the walking foot on 2 of them all the time. My 10000 machine I just use for embroidery but can use it for sewing if the need arose. I like piecing with it on as the fabric feeds evenly. I've also done fancy stitches as part of quilting.