I have the BL Espire (which I think is the same machine?). I am not sitting in front of it, but I think the stitch length only drops down so far as you mention. Not loving my machine or bonding with it yet, I think it is a fussy brat
. But I have done FMQ with it and do put the feed dogs down. It does fine, regardless of the stitch length. Piecing is another story on the monster...