Very hansdome indeed! Wish I could help Cecilia but neither of my Phoenix machines have anything like that gidget on them. Have never noticed anything on any of my others either! Miriam has seen a lot of machines so may know the answer. I know that these machines are supposed to be very good with heavy fabrics/thicknesses so your theory is sound, however if there's any play in the foot when you have it lowered then it should be able to cope with that stuff without its own special setting (correct me if this is utter b/s I'm talking here)