i've been watching this thread like a hawk because my freemotion skills aren't even good enough to call awful. the one thing i keep reading over and over is that finding the right speed is critical. then i looked at a photo of one of those cruise control attachments. can't remember which brand. i'm only going by a photo, so i could be completely wrong, but it looks as though all it does is control how much power gets fed to the motor - which is exactly what we're doing when we press down or let up on the pedal. we just have to "think about it".
i don't remember which topic it was under (might be farther back in this one) somebody posted the "system" she and her husband came up with. he kept an eye on the presser foot while she stitched. when he figured out exactly where she stopped pressing harder because she'd achieved the perfect speed, he cut a little block of wood and glued it to the power pedal under the plate. now, she can't go too fast. could be wrong, but i'll bet that little piece of wood and few drops of glue cost less than $500.
one of these days, i'm going to get a friend to help me do the same thing. i'll either use velcro to attach the wood so i can take it off when i need to speed stitch, or i'll buy a second power pedal just for freemotion. bet that costs way less than a regulator, too.
i'm such a gadget junkie i'd probably get a regulator, too, if i could afford one. unless or until ... i'm going to steal that couple's idea and mentally thank them every time i use it.
there's a special place in heaven for all the folks who come up with ways to make quilting easier, more affordable, and more fun. i just know there is.
:D