I have several machines with both knee lifts and thread cutters. I would not be without the knee lift. If I sew on a madchine that does not have one (FW) I find my knee going for it and it is not there. Habits are hard to break. As for the thread cutter, I do use it but have found on my Janome 77 Horizon if I use Aurifil thread, the thread is cut too short and unthreads the needle. Frustrating. So now I use the enders because I love the Aurifil thread.