I have two machines set up - one with a foot pedal and one with a stop/start button. I prefer the button,it has a slider that I use to adjust the speed when necessary. I didn't even plug in the pedal with that machine - have always used the button. Doesn't bother me to switch back and forth - I seem to prefer whichever one I'm working on!
(My sewing room is really the dining room - which is right through an opening into my piano studio - I teach 22 lessons a week - after I teach school all day. So ... guess my piano skills let me change back and forth? :) )
My older machine with the pedal will sometimes ... race a bit before it engages. Anyone else's do that --- grrrrrrrrrrrrrr - then start to sew? Drives me crazy.