I have a Janome with a thread cutter and I use it when I'm piecing but otherwise not because I want to be able to tie and bury threads when I'm quilting. The tails left on for mine are really two lengths. The ending length is quite short but the threads left when I begin to sew again are longer because they have to reach from the needle to where they've been cut under the throat plate. I don't see how they could be around 1/4" since it is farther from the needle to the thread cutter than that. As for pulling them up to start sewing again I don't do that because they are held in place enough to just start with no problems. Thread cutters are nice in some situations and not so much in others.