I totally understand the dense meander pattern issue. Unfortunately it is the way it is. There is no less dense meander pattern on the 12000 or the 15000 or even the 11000 for that matter. I bought the 11000 thinking the same thing, way too dense and it took forever to do. Made the quilt really heavy with thread. I traded it in for the 15000 and quite frankly I wish I had the 11000 back. Got the 7700 for everyday stitching, no problems with that machine other than when it first came out and they had to revise the F2 foot and gave everyone a free one.