LOL - happy backwards stitching!
I have never bothered to learn how to sew sideways. I know this machine does that but the only time I think I would need it is quilting the sandwich and not piecing and my machine gets cantankerous when quilting. My Juki does not care how thick the sandwich is, it will keep even stitch lengths but not my Babylock and the Babylock cost a whole lot more than the Juki.