I have a Viking Ruby and it has a drop in. I have No problem with tension. As a matter of fact I can honestly sayt that in the yr I've had my machine I've never touched the tension. My machine adjust on it's own depending on what I'm doing. The bobbin isn't any harder to load. I can't use the Sidewinder to fill the bobbin because it fills in reverse of what my Ruby does but I can fill the bobbins while I'm sewing or embroiderying so it's all good.