The other method of starting is to leave long thread tails and gently pull them when starting to stitch. I've used both techniques.
About bobbin thread too short when using cutter - I think this applies to all machines with a vertical bobbin and a thread cutter. At times, it does cut too short. My Pfaff does it and I've seen questions in the Brother forum for a quilter doing the same thing. I don't use the cutter on the Pfaff, I do it the old way. Bring up bobbin thread and use a long tail.