I had the HQ16 now have the Avante and love my micro handles. Yes it is great for micro quilting but I use them all the time. I like being able to have my hands down lower as I quilt. I never take them off and use them constantly. It was hard for me to decide to buy them but I sure am glad I did. I wouldn't trade them. They make me seem to have better control but to each his own. Does your dealer have a set on the demo machine? If so go in and try them out for a while now just a quick lets see how they run. When I am not doing micro I do not use a chair but if I have an area I really want small quilting I will sometimes sit on a bar stool.