1. I think the dealer...it's sort of a crapshoot who you get on the phone - I think most of them are Janome users, and I just didn't get a Husqvarna user on the phone? I don't know. I came from using a Janome to this one, so I've got a learning curve too!
2. And good point to the thread. I was tinkering with the manufacturer's loaded thread in, but will change to Gutermann asap. I haven't tried Mettler.