I love reading these comments. I could not stand chasing my foot pedal. For the last 4 years I simple press the start button and I'm sewing. I find I have much better control of my speed with the slide button. I had a lot of tension in my leg and my back when I used the foot pedal, because I was always stretching for the pedal.
I love the start sewing button, the needle threading button, the cutting button and the needle down button. Yep, I think I have my dream machine. It took 50 years of sewing to be happy with this machine.