The clearance between the foot and plate is 3/8", and it seems like it 'rides' over seam bumps easily-I've never managed to choke it yet.
The ZZ is also very nice, and one of the wider ones I've seen, although I didn't think to measure it.
I've got mine in a 7-drawer Singer cabinet, and it fits fine. BUT the hinge pin holes are *smaller* than the Singer hinge pins. You're either going to have to grind down the pins, bore out the holes, or find Necchi hinges to use instead. I did a bit of both-boring cast iron makes me nervous, so I also ground down the pins a bit. I think that Necchi hinges are offset, which means it wouldn't then fit in a Singer cab, but I'm not for sure on that.
It really is a gorgeous machine. I wish I liked it better-I'd use it more.